Mission Hills man accused of grant deed forgery, stealing identies.
A Mission Hills man already facing criminal charges involving alleged real estate foreclosure and investment fraud was charged Friday with several more felony counts, including grand theft, identity theft and forgery involving many victims in Santa Clarita.
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James Anthony Rojas, 51, faced 82 counts, all but three of them felonies. The misdemeanor counts allege rent skimming. Most of the crimes involve real estate foreclosure fraud, in which Rojas allegedly forged grant deeds to take over victims’ homes. Some of the victims had gone to Rojas for help with mortgage problems; most didn’t even know him until the forged grant deeds appeared.
The charges cover an approximately two-year period starting in 2005. Involved are 15 pieces of property in Long Beach, San Fernando, Sunland, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Newhall, Lynwood, Saugus, Palmdale and Bakersfield.
Of the 21 victims named in the complaint, three are notaries who said they did not sign the documents. They reported that their seals had been stolen or compromised.
Rojas entered a not guilty plea on Friday and the court set bail at $1.64 million. If convicted as charged, Rojas faces a substantial prison term to be determined by the court.