In the following press release the Santa Clara County (CA) District Attorney annouced that at arraignment this week, 42-year old Lawrence Maschino pleaded guilty to charges including writing checks with insufficient funds, using a victim’s personal information without authorization, and grand theft of personal property over $400. In addition, Mr. Maschino has three prior felony convictions for similar offenses.

In pleading guilty, Mr. Maschino agreed to a four year prison term. The charges were the result of the San Jose Police Department’s Fraud Unit receiving a tip from a real estate agent. Mr. Maschino attempted to purchase a home worth $760,000. The agent suspected Mr. Maschino was a con artist. When SJPD figured out he had absconded from his parole, they swiftly arrested him. During his arrest, they found in his possession numerous pieces of evidence resulting in an investigation for the above charges. Mr. Maschino wrote a series of bad checks, worth thousands of dollars starting in February 2009 that continued through June 2009. The total loss as a result of the bad checks was more than $17,000.00. He also used the personal information of several victims, including doctors and elders, without authorization.

Mr. Maschino will be sentenced on December 11, 2009, at 9:00am in Dept. 24 of the Hall of Justice.