People v. Miller CA1/1

BACKGROUND

In 2018, Miller purchased real property in Studio City (property) after obtaining a $1,445,000 loan from a bank, secured by a deed of trust. The following year, the bank assigned its interest in the deed of trust to 2 Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing and Deephaven Mortgage, LLC (collectively, prior lenders). In August 2019, the People charged Miller with multiple felonies — such as procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, grand theft of real property, and money laundering — related to transactions defrauding Lion Share and Jansohn. Miller allegedly participated in a scheme to fraudulently induce Jansohn, an elderly victim, to convey her Redwood City property to Justin Hall, Miller’s codefendant. Hall then paid Jansohn $2,000 before reselling the house to Lion Share for $997,000. Upon the People’s August 2019 petition for a temporary restraining order under section 186.11, the trial court temporarily enjoined Miller and other entities acting in concert with her from transferring or disposing of the property, thus preserving it and other assets to pay fines and restitution. Miller defaulted on her loan and the prior lenders issued a notice of default in…