San Bernardino District Attorney Press Release  – March 29, 2005

Following a six-month investigation by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Investigators, search warrants were served on three California locations – Carlsbad, Newport Beach and Santa Ana.

Working from information provided by Treasurer/Tax Collector Dick Larsen, the District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation into a scheme to defraud property owners in San Bernardino County. John Carr, 73, Randi Fjaeran, 63, Alvin Cox, 51 and Justin Cox, 21 were all charged with the following: One count of P.C. 182(a) - Conspiracy to Defraud; 3 counts of P.C. 368 (d) - Theft from an Elder or Dependant Adult; 7 counts of P.C. 487(a) - Grand Theft of Personal Property; 3 counts of P.C. 459 – First Degree Residential Burglary; 2 counts of P.C. 115(a) – Attempt to File False or Forged Instrument for Record and 2 counts of P.C. 470(a) – Forgery.

The case number at the San Bernadino Superior Court  is FSB048888.

Fjaeran and Carr were arrested in Carlsbad, CA on March 23, 2005, and booked into Vista Jail in San Diego County. Bail was set at $1 million. Arrest warrants were issued for Alvin and Justin Cox, who remain at large.

District Attorney Michael A. Ramos praised Larsen’s efforts in bringing the scam to the attention of the District Attorney’s Office. “Mr. Larsen became aware of the situation and promptly reported the scheme to our office. He has provided invaluable assistance to our investigators in their efforts to track down the perpetrators.”

Larsen commented, “I will not stand for anyone taking advantage of our senior citizens or their estates. Their property should be passed to the rightful heirs, not into the hands of unscrupulous predators. My office has zero tolerance for anyone who engages in illegal or unethical property transactions.”