Thursday, October 29, 2009

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.

mortgage fraud

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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