A real estate agent that called Lathrop home was arrested last week on charges of grand theft and elder abuse after it was alleged that she bilked senior clients out of more than $1 million in a real estate fraud in Santa Clara County.
Geana Or, 48, was arrested by the Santa Clara Police Department after the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department issued a $1 million warrant for her arrest after an investigation into her practices of convincing clients to buy homes that were close to foreclosure in order to flip them and make a quick profit set off fraud flags.
According to a report by the San Jose Mercury News, Or was turned into the West Valley Patrol Division after a 73-year-old resident of Los Altos Hills reported writing her 10 cashier checks worth about $475,000 that she was supposed to be used to purchase two homes that would be able to be resold quickly and for a profit. The victim gave her the money between January and March of last year.
Another resident of the area reported being targeted as well. After they were informed that the real estate deal fell through, the money that was given was not returned to them.
A third resident who is now currently living in China, according to the Mercury News, may have also given the same amount of money to Or according to the official investigation. Additional victims are currently being sought by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department.
She was taken into custody on May 1, and is currently free on bond.