Jackie Lacey, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, filed dozens of new felony charges against a West Hills woman for real estate fraud. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Dozens of new felony charges have been filed against a woman who allegedly stole millions of dollars from elderly people in Los Angeles through years-long fraud schemes involving their properties.
Deputy District Attorney Walter Mueller said that from 2014 to 2018, former attorney Angela Fawn Wallace befriended elderly homeowners and located properties whose owners were deceased, then placed her name on the titles, the Associated Press reported.
Wallace, who is from West Hills, faces a total 162 felony charges in two separate cases. She pleaded not guilty on January 31 to the 35 most recent charges, and earlier pleaded not guilty to 127 felony counts filed last year.
Wallace allegedly obtained loans secured by the properties or sold them and kept the proceeds. She is also accused of stealing $800,000 from one victim’s bank accounts and stock portfolio.
The most recent alleged scheme targeted six properties in the county and affected two dozen victims, who lost $2.4 million.
In July, Wallace was charged with allegedly stealing $2 million in a scheme involving two dozen other victims. The alleged scheme lasted from 2014 to 2017, and involved four properties. In one case, she allegedly rented out a multifamily building and kept the money instead of giving it to the estate of the deceased owner.
A preliminary hearing for both cases is scheduled for March 28. Wallace faces a maximum sentence of almost 82 years in prison.
She was also previously convicted of grand theft, forgery, and recording false documents. [AP] — Gregory Cornfield
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