| For Immediate Release Case # 09NF0753
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FAKE PROPERTY OWNER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS STATE PRISON FOR CLAIMING TO OWN TWO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND FRAUDULENTLY ATTEMPTING TO SELL NIGHTCLUB AND ADJACENT RESTAURANT FOR $11 MILLION
FULLERTON – A man was sentenced today to two years in state prison for claiming to own two commercial properties, and fraudulently attempting to sell one in Anaheim for $11 million by falsely claiming to be the property owner. Danny Lee Kirkey, 40, pleaded guilty to the court Jan. 15, 2010, to four felony counts of recording a false document with the county clerk-recorder, five felony counts of forgery, and one felony count of attempted grand theft with a sentencing enhancement for property loss over $3.2 million. He was sentenced today to a court offer of two years in state prison. A restitution hearing has been scheduled for June 25, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
On July 8, 2008, and Oct. 15, 2008, Kirkey filed three false documents with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Office to falsely show that he owned an Anaheim property. Two buildings existed on the property, located at 1721 South Manchester Avenue, including the now-closed Boogie Nightclub and Flakey Jake’s restaurant. The defendant is not the owner and has no known ties to the property.
On Oct. 20, 2008, Kirkey filed a false and forged document with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Office to falsely show that he owned a La Habra commercial property. A Target Department Store presently exists on that property, located at 1000 East Imperial Highway.
On Sept. 12, 2008, Kirkey met with commercial real estate brokers with the intention of listing the Anaheim property for $11 million. He gave the brokers two forged documents for the listing, one of which he had altered to show he was rightful owner of the property after it had been notarized, and the other which he forged the true owner’s initials ceding the property to him. The brokers, who became suspicious of Kirkey when he lacked relevant real estate knowledge, did not list the property and contacted the true owner.
Without the knowledge of the commercial brokerage company, Kirkey listed the property online for $16 million. He identified the commercial real estate company by name as the listing agency, but misspelled the company and agent’s name.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Pete Pierce of the White Collar Crime Team is prosecuting this case.
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