By Redacción
Redaccion@latinocc.com
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Albino Manuel Mendoza, 51, and María Antonia Hernández, 42, both Ventura residents, face multiple charges related to real estate crimes, including mortgage fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
Mendoza has been charged with one count of grand theft, one count of mortgage fraud, seven counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy. Hernández faces one count of mortgage fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of conspiracy. Both also face aggravating factors.
Real estate fraud allegations
According to the DA’s office, in January 2019 Mendoza allegedly made false statements that led the victim to relinquish ownership of her Oxnard home. In July 2021, Mendoza and Hernández allegedly obtained a fraudulent mortgage loan that allowed Hernández to buy the residence from Mendoza. Both then allegedly laundered the proceeds of that transaction to cover personal expenses.
Three years later, in July 2024, Hernández sold the victim’s home to an unrelated third party. The investigation determined that the original homeowner never received money from either of the sales.
Arrest and court proceedings
Following an extensive investigation by the District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit, Mendoza and Hernández were arrested on August 26 by the Ventura Police Department. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dominic Kardum will prosecute the case.
Both pleaded not guilty at their first court appearance on August 27 and are scheduled to return to court on August 29 for a bail review hearing. They remain in custody on $100,000 bail each.
