Woman charged in real estate fraud case

DOWNEY - A 30-year-old Van Nuys woman has been arrested in connection with a sophisticated real estate fraud scheme that targeted homes in Downey and elsewhere.A 36-count felony complaint was filed against Anna Moskovyan by the L.A. County District Attorney's office on March 21. The complaint alleges multiple counts of grand theft and the recording of false and fraudulent documents related to more than 100 properties in L.A. County and beyond. Moskovyan was arrested March 28 when she appeared at Glendale Court on an unrelated matter. It is alleged that between April 2010 and June 2012, Moskovyan committed "numerous sophisticated fraudulent acts of various types through Los Angeles County," authorities said. Among the allegations: 1.) Moskovyan identified real estate properties that were scheduled for tax lien sales and recorded forged grant deeds at the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office, transferring ownership to herself. She then filed claims to receive the "excess proceeds" from the tax liens. In other words, she fraudulently claimed the rights to receive the money left over after a property is sold and the tax liens were paid off. 2.) Moskovyan recorded dozens of phony mechanics liens for painting work which was never done on the titles of real estate properties which were in foreclosure. Several financial institutions paid Moskovyan to remove the fraudulent liens in order to clear the titles so the properties could be foreclosed upon and resold. 3.) Moskovyan fraudulently transferred the ownership of two real estate properties to herself by recording forged grant deeds. She then applied for, and received, loans using the fraudulently obtained properties as collateral. Moskovyan collected about $100,000 through the alleged scheme, investigators said. Authorities began investigating after several property owners filed complaints with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs. Mechanic liens were filed on properties in Downey, Altadena, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Cerritos, Diamond Bar, Hacienda Heights, La Canada, La Mirada, La Puente, Lakewood, North Hollywood, North Hills, Northridge, Monterey Park, Valencia and Valley Village. The forged grant deeds were recorded on properties in Compton and South Los Angeles. Search warrants were executed at Moskovyan's Glendale office and her home in North Hollywood, which produced allegedly certified copies of the forged grant deeds and mechanic liens, authorities said. Moskovyan is currently in custody with bail set at $1.24 million. Her next court date is Tuesday.

********** Published: April 11, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 52