LOS ANGELES
A licensed real estate broker and two others were arrested Tuesday on a federal complaint alleging they used stolen identities to fraudulently sell a $1.5 million Burbank home and obtain nearly $1 million in loan proceeds.
Arrested were Glenis Cardona, 63, of Highland; Ivan Reyes, 50, of Van Nuys; and Arshak Akopyan, 46, of Northridge. Authorities are searching for Basil Tikriti, 54, of Marina del Rey, who remains at large.
Prosecutors allege the defendants carried out the scheme in late 2023 and early 2024, using the stolen identities of the homeowner and a purported buyer to complete the sale and secure about $975,000 in mortgage funds.
According to court records, Cardona, who operated Golden Escrow in Downey and Sherman Oaks, controlled the transaction and falsely represented both buyer and seller.
Investigators say the group created fake identification cards, purchase agreements, deeds, and loan applications, and submitted the documents to a lender that unknowingly funded the loan.
Tikriti allegedly impersonated both the seller and buyer, while Reyes and Akopyan acted as mortgage brokers, submitting fraudulent applications. After funds were deposited into escrow, Cardona allegedly routed the money to third parties so the defendants could collect the proceeds.
Victims include the homeowner, who lost title to the property; the buyer, left responsible for the mortgage; the lender; and the title company.
Each defendant faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted.
The FBI is investigating with assistance from the Burbank Police Department.