On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, in Superior Court, Department M-2, 9 guilty verdicts were read in the case of People v. Oralia Hidalgo, 46, of Colton. The jury found the defendant guilty on felony counts ranging from forgery, grand theft, filing of false instruments, and a grand theft enhancement.

In July 2003, Hidalgo forged the victim’s name on a Grant Deed illegally taking title to a residence in Colton. She encumbered the property by taking a loan on it. Subsequently, the victim discovered the fraud and confronted Hidalgo at the property. Hidalgo immediately sold the property to an unsuspecting real estate agent for $125,000.

The defendant falsified several real estate deeds and forged the signature and stamp of a notary public. Hidalgo, a tax preparer who owned her own business, was extremely sophisticated in falsifying several deeds. The fraudulent deeds were later recorded at the San Bernardino County Recorder’s Office.

Press release

On Monday, November 16, 2009, in Joshua Tree Superior Court, Judge Rod Cortez sentenced Oralia Hidalgo, 46, of Colton to prison for real estate fraud related crimes. Hidalgo was ordered to serve five (5) years in the California state prison system. The defendant was found guilty on nine (9) felony counts ranging from forgery, grand theft, filing of false instruments, and a grand theft enhancement, which were filed by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit.

Press Release