East Bay Man Among 10 Sentenced In Real Estate Auction Conspiracy

BAY AREA, CA – Two Bay Area residents were among 10 people sentenced Monday for mail fraud and rigging bids at public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Joaquin County, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

San Francisco resident Walter Olmstead was sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to pay about $30,000 in restitution to his victims, while Danville resident Robert Rose was sentenced to pay a $100,000
criminal fine and about $24,000 in restitution to his victims.

Eight others from Stockton and elsewhere outside of the Bay Area were also sentenced in the scheme, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the purpose of the bid rigging and mail fraud was to limit competition and conceal payoffs in the sale of properties at San Joaquin County auctions.

The less-than-competitive foreclosure auctions allowed the defendants to pay less than the market rate for properties.

The proceeds of the auctions are used to pay off mortgages on homes and any debt attached to the properties, with any remaining amount going to the homeowner.

Court documents show that the defendants received money that would have gone to mortgage and other debt holders, according to prosecutors.

Thirteen people pleaded guilty or were convicted in connection with the investigation, which was done in connection with President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was created to
investigate and prosecute financial crimes.

• Also see: Crash, Acid Spill Leads To Injury, Shelter-In Place Order For Homes, Shell Refinery

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image