Oakland County
Woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from prospective Pontiac homebuyers released from jail
A Pontiac lady charged with 9 felonies for allegedly stealing tens of hundreds of {dollars} from potential homebuyers was launched early Wednesday morning.
Amanda Escalante-Lopez was provisionally launched after posting $5,000 – the required 10% of a $50,000 money or surety bond set by fiftieth District Justice of the Peace Angelena Thomas-Scruggs throughout her Oct. 14 arraignment. She is due again in courtroom on October 22 for a possible trigger convention earlier than Choose Ronda Gross.
Escalante-Lopez, 28, is charged with three counts of false pretense – $20,000 or extra, two counts of false pretense – $1,000 to $20,000, one depend of theft by conversion – $20,000 or extra, and three counts of theft by conversion – $1,000 to $20,000.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Workplace alleges that Escalante-Lopez entered into oral agreements for land contracts and title to Pontiac properties she didn’t personal, falsely promising rights and entry to the properties – and stealing the deposits. Based on the Public Prosecution Service, the potential patrons by no means obtained keys, entry or titles to the house underneath the agreements.
Escalante-Lopez is claimed to have began producing the fraudulent agreements in early 2024, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.
A few of Escalante-Lopez’s alleged victims lately revealed to The Oakland Press that they’re in america illegally. The Oakland Press requested District Legal professional’s Workplace spokesman Jeff Wattrick to substantiate their immigration standing and what penalties they face if they’re undocumented. Wattrick responded that he’s “not conscious of their immigration standing.”
Among the many costs Escalante-Lopez faces are false pretenses — $20,000 to $50,000 carries the very best penalty — as much as 15 years in jail and/or a $15,000 positive. The remaining costs additionally carry jail time and fines.
The Oakland County jail roster reveals Escalante-Lopez was booked into jail on the afternoon of Oct. 13 and launched shortly earlier than 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 15.
Initially revealed: