| 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
|
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.