In the following press release Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced that his Consumer Protection & Real Estate Fraud Unit is charging four local real estate loan professionals and their corporation with fraudulent marketing and unlawful business practices.

According to the civil complaint, Monterey mortgage broker Linda Kay Campbell and real estate professionals Sharline Searle-Livingston, Ronnie Lee Esparza and Blanca M. Rivera and California corporation Ed Veronick Mortgage Loans, Inc. allegedly engaged in deceptive advertising and fraudulent real estate loan practices since 2004. The complaint alleges that these individuals operated through a California corporation, Ed Veronick Mortgage Loans, Inc. and marketed themselves as Veronick Home Loans.

According to the complaint, Linda Kay Campbell, the corporation’s designated broker, and Sharline Searle-Livingston hired unlicensed persons like Ronnie Esparza and Blanca Rivera to market and operate Veronick Home Loans through a Salinas branch office. The complaint further alleges that Ronnie Esparza deceptively marketed himself as a loan officer and unlawfully negotiated and brokered real estate loans.

The civil complaint has been filed in the Monterey County Superior Court and seeks a permanent injunction, civil penalties and disgorgement of illegal profits.

Those consumers or borrowers having complaints about the Defendants’ advertising or business practices should contact the District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit, located at the County courthouse at 1200 Aguajito Road, Room 301 in Monterey. Consumers can also telephone 831-647-7770. Consumer complaint forms are also available on the District Attorney’s website.