SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) — A Salem mortgage consultant is facing multiple charges after authorities say he defrauded several of his clients out of thousands of dollars.
Oscar Tejada-Sandoval, 48, has been charged with theft in the first degree, aggravated theft in the first degree, aggravated identity theft and forgery in the first degree.
Salem Police detectives working alongside the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation completed a joint investigation of the mortgage consultant following multiple victims’ complaints to banks and law enforcement.
Authorities say Tejada-Sandoval modified victims’ mortgages so that he received their payments and, instead of paying the mortgages as promised, kept the money for himself. He is also accused of using victims’ financial information to pay off his personal debts, as well as forging a check from a client to himself.
Eight individual victims and two financial institutions have been identified in the case so far, with losses in excess of $63,000. Two of the victims have since lost their homes to foreclosure since the theft occurred.
Victims have been identified from McMinnville, Beaverton, Woodburn, Eugene and Salem. Thus far, all of the victims identified are of Hispanic descent.
Investigators have expressed concern Tejada-Sandoval may have victimized others in the area. If you or someone you know may have had questionable business dealings with him, you’re asked to contact the Oregon State Division of Financial Regulations.
Filed under: Consumer Crime, Crime, Money, News, Salem
