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Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar
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Five Charged with Beating, Torture of Loan Modification Agents
Daniel Weston, 52, La Cañada, Califorina, and Gustavo Canez, 36, Los Angeles, California, were charged with two counts of torture, two counts of false imprisonment by violence and two counts of second-degree robbery in connection with the beating and torture of a pair of loan modification agents.
The criminal complaint alleges that in the commission of the offenses Weston and Canez personally used a handgun. The complaint further alleges that Canez was convicted in March 2000 of assault with a firearm.
Three others were arraigned and have pleaded not guilty. Mario Soloman Gonzales, 47, Glendale, Marissa Parker, 49, Sylmar, and Mary Ann Parmelee, La Cañada, were each charged with two counts of torture, two counts of false imprisonment by violence and two counts of second-degree robbery.
Gonzales additionally faces one count of possession of a deadly weapon, wood knuckles. The criminal complaint includes an allegation that in the commission of the offenses a principal was armed with a gun.
Prosecutors said Weston and Parmelee live in a house that is in foreclosure. The two allegedly sought loan modification assistance from the victims but believed that nothing was being done and wanted their money back.
The defendants, including Gonzales and Parker, purportedly set up a meeting with the victims at the location where the assault took place. Weston and Canez allegedly carried out the attack in the presence of the other defendants. The victims also were allegedly robbed of their loan paperwork and personal belongings.
Gonzales, Parker and Parmelee, a realtor, had a business relationship with the victims, prosecutors said. The three funneled loan modification referrals to the two agents.
Bail was recommended at $2.1 million for Weston and $2.8 million for Canez.
Weston and Canez are due to appear for arraignment in Department 1 of Glendale Superior Court. The defendants are charged in case No. GA078241. Gonzales, Parker and Parmelee are next due at Burbank Superior Court on Nov. 2, 2009, for a pre-preliminary hearing.
Deputy District Attorney Norma Serna of the Glendale Area Office made the announcement.
Gonzales, Parker and Parmelee, a realtor, had a business relationship with the victims, prosecutors said. The three funneled loan modification referrals to the two agents.
I think that pretty much says it all… no honor among thieves, right?
Posted by on 10/29 at 05:32 AM
Story states Parmelee a Realtor??
A Realtor is the designated Head Broker of a company and in good standing with the National Association of Realtors as well as the State and Local Boards. I don’t think Parmelle has that designation. At best posibly a Realtor Associate ( salesperson) But I surmise a person just had a Real Estate Licence which my dog could get in almost any state.
The modifiers could be ligit but it is the banks and services that are really doing their level best to dismis as many applications so that the forclosures can continue at a slower pace.
If anyone deserves a beating it is the managers in the Loss mitigation units that are participating in this ruse along withe the polititions that know exactly whats going on.
Posted by on 10/29 at 06:41 AM
We are in a sad state! I hope people will quit taken advantage of the consumer! Peter Scalise
Posted by on 10/29 at 07:20 AM
I know Dan Weston. He dated my mother and used her ssn and banking information to apply for almost $200k in fraudulent loans and lines of credit. She’s had a hell of a time repairing the damage. Weston is a career con man and with this attention, hopefully more dirt on him will come out, so that he never comes back.
Posted by on 10/30 at 05:09 AM
My boss was also robbed by Weston, he did work for his liqour store in La Canada and never got paid for his bill of almost 900 dollars. The guy bounced a check, lied at every corner and kept promising to pay my boss for services rendered but to no avail. My boss finally filed papers with the DA for check fraud. The guy is a crook, and deserves to be locked up for a very long time. Let justice be done, lock this piece of trash up for good!
Posted by on 10/30 at 11:43 AM
It just amazes me that this didn’t happen sooner. Maybe it will start a trend. So many of these modifiers are taking money from unqualified clients and promising everything. Too bad he didn’t deliver. I’d say the beating was lightweight compared to what could be.
Posted by on 11/04 at 06:03 AM
The story here is completely bias. If you read through the entire police report you would know that this was justifiable. For once the evidence here is verbally spoken out from a scared man. 2 wood knuckles are for self-defence. What doesn’t count are the victims here who were just trying to sought out a resolution. Obviously being in the same office with the same people is not so pleasant. Think of GODFATHER for example. You give someone a job, you pay the person for the job, the job didnt go properly, so you seek for warranty…
hey torture beating? are there and pictures here that shows any of the victims injuries? maybe after being released the person must have performed self inflicted injuries. be aware of this cons too. maybe they too have records of fraud. it amazes me how we humans judge everything but in the end…
innocent until proven guilty.
Posted by on 11/04 at 06:12 AM
Sounds to me like the fraudsters had a taste of their own medicine both ways. Violence is not justified, but it is a lesson.
We don’t have enought prison room to handle everyone so it seems.. Our society is unfortunately becoming conditioned to cheat others.
Posted by on 11/07 at 08:39 AM
I was scammed out of $18,000 by Weston. I delivered hardwood flooring to his La Canada house and before he paid me and before I had a chance to install it, he had someone else install the flooring. He bounced check for $5,500, lied at every corner and kept promising to pay me for the hardwood flooring that I delivered to his house. We won the case that was filed against him and because he was a crook he was able to reverse the judgment (after he lied to the judge). He also showed a fraudjulent check to the court that showed he paid me. I also won the arbitration case against him and again never received my money. The guy is the #1 crook, and deserves to be locked up for a very long time. Let justice be done, lock this piece of trash up for good!
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As part of an ongoing effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, state agencies are organizing a foreclosure-prevention event in Bend on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
Shelbyville Man Gets 2-Year Sentence For Loan Fraud Chattanoogan.Com
Prosecutor Gary Humble said the lost was approximately $2.3 million in the mortgage fraud involving hundreds of homes in the Shelbyville area.
Lend America, VP Ashley Banned from FHA Housing Wire
Michael Ashley, the embattled former vice president of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed mortgage originator Lend America, and the company he worked for, were permanently banned from doing business in the industry last week.
Countrywide Tries to Pin Blame on Insurer Court House News
Countrywide Home Loans demands $111 million from Triad Guaranty Insurance, claiming Triad is trying to blame mortgage lenders for the insurer's role in the housing bubble and collapse.
Investors Say They Were Swindled in Property Scheme Fox 13 Now
Utah Division of Consumer Protection is joining forces with a few investors who claim they have been cheated by an agency called "Utah Mini Ranches.
Greenfield Man Accused of Housing Scam The Republic
A former real estate agent conned at least eight people by renting them properties actually owned by a federal agency and then running off with their deposits, prosecutors said.
Appraisal Institute Opposes Obama Administration's Plan for Homeowner 'Short Sales' PR News Wire
Citing concerns about increased mortgage fraud, four organizations representing more than 35,000 real estate appraisers today voiced their opposition to changes to an Obama administration program that will encourage "short sales" of homes.
Ownership Rights to Get Another Look TBO.Com
State lawmakers may beef up protections of property owners' rights by rewriting a law this spring that is at the center of a case of alleged fraud in Pasco County.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Continued Testimony
As reported by Anne Mitchell, who viewed the trial:
Angela Parenza worked for Jeff Miller as the office manager for 7 or 8 years beginning in 1998. Parenza was indicted along with Miller and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Parenza testified that Miller or his contractors allegedly preferred to build all the...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage Continued - Witness Testimony
Steve Middleton Testimony - Coverage Provided by Anne Mitchell
The Government continued in its cross examination of Steve Middleton. He was shown several HUD-1 statements involving sales of homes located in Overland Park, KS, and Olathe, KS. The HUD statements each allegedly showed line items of payments to (James) Moser & Associates, LLC's...
Monday, February 01, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage - Continued Witness Examination
According to Anne Mitchell, who is present in court for the trial:
Next Witness: Kelly Sanford
Kelly Sanford of the Federal Reserve was a short witness for the Government. Sanford manages electronic payments between banks and member financial institutions. He was shown copies of wire transfers and asked whether they coincided with the counts in...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial - Prosecution Witnesses Continued
According to Anne Mitchell, who is viewing the trial:
January 13, 2010
Witness: Rick Hayes
Rick Hayes testified that on the day that he closed on his Miller Enterprise home, he received a phone call from the Kansas Banking Commission informing him that his loan was fraudulent. After the Hayes responded to a classified ad, they met with John...
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The information and notices contained on Mortgage Fraud Blog are intended to summarize recent developments in mortgage fraud cases and mortgage banking matters nationwide. The posts on this site are presented as general research and information and are expressly not intended, and should not be regarded, as legal advice. Much of the information on this site concerns allegations made in civil lawsuits and in criminal indictments. All persons are presumed innocent until convicted of a crime. Readers who have particular questions about mortgage banking, mortgage fraud matters or who believe they require legal counsel should seek the advice of an attorney. The creators, editors and sponsors of Mortgage Fraud Blog do not intend to create a confidential relationship or an attorney-client relationship by communication via or arising from this site.
Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of 
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