A 28-year-old Pontiac woman, Amanda Escalante-Lopez, faces ten felony charges in a case where she is accused of real estate fraud. The Oakland County Prosecutor, KAREN D. McDONALD, laid out the charges that include schemes of false pretenses and larceny by conversion, involving sums between $1,000 and $50,000. According to official statements from the Oakland County government's news section, Escalante-Lopez allegedly engaged in verbal real estate agreements for land contracts and titles to homes she didn't actually own.
The victims reportedly entered into agreements with Escalante-Lopez, handing over down payments in expectation of receiving keys and titles to homes in Pontiac. However, they ultimately did not receive access to these homes. Oakland County Prosecutor stated, per Oakland County, "For many, home ownership is the ultimate financial goal after years of hard work. These allegations are about more than the theft of money. It is about robbing victims of security and dignity that comes from purchasing a home of their own." The specific charges include three counts of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, three counts of False Pretenses $1,000-$20,000, one count of Larceny by Conversion $20,000 Or More, and three counts of Larceny by Conversion $1,000-$20,000.
Potential punishments for these crimes are steep. False Pretenses involving amounts $20,000-$50,000 could lead to up to 15 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine. Lesser sums between $1,000-$20,000 carry a penalty of up to five years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. For Larceny by Conversion over $20,000, the law allows for up to ten years in prison and/or fines, potentially tripling the value of the property stolen or set at $15,000. Lesser conversion instances $1,000-$20,000 carry up to a five-year sentence and/or fines following the same pattern as greater amounts.
