By Brian Hews
A Southern California real estate agent has been arrested in a scheme that allegedly bilked hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims.
Licensed Real Estate Agent, 47-year old Suspect Jong Hwan Huh (aka:David Huh) from the city of Torrance, allegedly defrauded seven clients out of $404,000.00 by way of various different schemes. Huh was employed by Masters Realty Group in Los Angeles. The victims were located in Lomita, Torrance, Gardena and the Los Angeles area.
“Although there were variations in the schemes, they all involved obtaining money from the victims for real estate purchases or leases, and misappropriation of money,” said Detective Ron Sabatine from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Law enforcement believes that the crime took place from June 2008 through August 2010.
The investigation also revealed that Huh frequented local casinos and used the victims’ money to gamble.
On Friday, April 27, 2012, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed 17 felony counts against Huh. The charges included Grand Theft, Forgery, Issuing Bad Checks and Enhancements for Aggravated White Collar Crime. A warrant was issued for Huh’s arrest.
On Thursday, July 5, deputies from the Lomita Sheriff’s Station arrested Suspect Huh as he was leaving the South End Racquet and Health Club in Torrance.
Huh was booked into the Lomita Sheriff’s Station jail with a bail of $404,000. He was arraigned on Monday, July 9, 2012 in Los Angeles Superior Court, case # BA396883. His next court date is scheduled for August 1, 2012.
Anyone with information about this incident or if you are a victim, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Commercial Crimes Bureau, Real Estate Fraud Unit at (562) 946-7217. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
I think everybody should check out the Scam Detector app. I believe they’re online as well.