Laura Cecilia Carlson, 66, Hacienda Heights, California, was sentenced to 11 years 8 months, in prison after being found guilty at a jury trial. Carlson was convicted of 14 separate felonies including two counts of foreclosure consultant fraud, one count of filing a false document, nine counts of grand theft and two counts of money laundering.
Carlson ran an illegal foreclosure rescue business that victimized people in Ventura County and throughout Southern California. She primarily targeted monolingual Spanish-speaking residents struggling to pay their monthly mortgages, promising home loan modifications and charging thousands of dollars in illegal upfront fees. Victims received no actual services and many lost their homes to foreclosure. Carlson operated under multiple business names including Global Team Consulting, U.S.A., Home Recovery Service, and S.B. Management.
In addition to the prison sentence, Carlson was ordered to pay $63,231 in restitution to the eight named victims.
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced the sentence.
This case was investigated by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit.