TWO SISTERS SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OVER $16 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE FRAUD

For Immediate Release
Case # 10CF0477
11ZF0120


 

July 30, 2012

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718
 

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

 

 

TWO SISTERS SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OVER $16 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE FRAUD

 

*Third co-defendant has been sentenced and a fourth is pending in this case

SANTA ANA – Two sisters were sentenced Friday, July 27, 2012, for conspiring with two other family members to commit over $16 million in real estate fraud by forging documents and purchasing homes using “straw buyers.” A straw buyer is a person who knowingly and willingly allows their credit to be used for the purchase of a property they never intend to control.

 

Suniti Shah, 51, was sentenced to eight years in state prison July 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to the court to five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 13 felony counts of forgery, four felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of recording false and forged instrument, five felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $1.3 million, and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000.

 

Supriti Soni, 52, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison July 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to the court to nine felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 17 felony counts of forgery, one felony count of identity theft, 12 felony counts of grand theft, with sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $3.2 million, aggravated white collar crime over $500,000, and a 2003 prison prior for perjury.

 

Co-Defendants

Suniti Shah’s husband, Dinesh Valjeebhai Shah, 62, is charged with five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 13 felony counts of forgery, four felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of recording false and forged instrument, five felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $1.3 million, and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000. Dinesh Shah is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 3, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

 

Soni and Suniti Shah’s mother, Sushama Devi Lohia, 74, Newport Beach, was sentenced to eight years in state prison April 20, 2012, after pleading guilty to a court offer Dec. 12, 2011, to 12 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 27 felony counts of forgery, 12 felony count of grand theft, eight felony counts of failure to file, four felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of recording false and forged instrument, two felony counts of underreporting income and sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $3.2 million, and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000.