Woman Charged in Alleged Loan Scam Targeting Spanish Speakers

A woman accused of operating a foreclosure rescue and loan modification scam that targeted Spanish-speaking homeowners is scheduled to be arraigned next week on 17 criminal charges, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office announced this week.

Evelyn Rodriguez, also known as Eblin Balver, is charged with eight counts of illegally accepting payments prior to performing services and failing to provide a contract as required by law, four counts of grand theft, three counts of unlicensed practice of law and two counts of failing to register and obtain a bond, according to the City Attorney's Office.

The 46-year-old woman -- allegedly purporting to do business on behalf of L.A. County Justice Center and Time Legal Services -- is accused of enticing at least eight homeowners to pay her large advance fees and monthly fees ranging from $5,000 to $16,000 in order to save their homes from foreclosure, according to the City Attorney's Office.

The alleged victims are from across the region, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Montebello and Riverside County.

Rodriguez is also accused of instructing the homeowners to stop communicating with their lenders and to stop making their credit card and mortgage payments and of promising some customers that she would obtain a loan modification for them, according to the City Attorney's Office.

She is set to be arraigned Tuesday in Central Arraignment Court.

- City News Service