People v. Rojas CA2/6

FACTS

Appellant convinced five separate property owners that he could help them avoid foreclosure or succeed in real estate litigation. He then recorded documents in the chain of title to the clients’ real property, to force them to pay him money he claimed to be owed. Gernote and Eleanor Wade: The Wades owned a house on Hemlock Street in Oxnard. After Gernote Wade retired, they fell behind on their mortgage payments and were served with a notice of default in October 2016. Gernote Wade was referred to appellant through a postcard he received in the mail. Appellant advised Wade that he could delay the foreclosure by filing bankruptcy or by getting an investor to buy the house. Appellant also talked about investing in the property himself, and then building a multi-family addition onto the existing house. In his plan, the Wades would move to the property and later improve it, giving them some income. Appellant sent Wade a list of properties that fit his investment plan. Wade was supposed to find out whether the properties were zoned for multi-family development. Appellant also instructed Wade to deposit about $1,300 each month into an account that

2 appellant controlled. Wade…