The Real Estate Fraud Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Commercial Crimes Division’s arrested Rita Ortiz for filing false mechanical liens on several residential properties.
Ortiz filed mechanical liens on property titles for extraordinarily elevated amounts, with some as high as $24.6 million. The liens were recorded for services allegedly rendered by Ortiz Consulting LLC for cleaning or consulting services.
The LAPD identified properties in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Riverside County that were impacted by Ortiz’s liens.
Furthermore, Ortiz claimed to be a real estate consultant and business coach and marketed herself as offering services involving property sales, investment properties, home leasing, short sales, and loan modifications through a nonprofit organization called “Make Your Dreams Come True.” However, she is not registered with the Department of Real Estate.
Ortiz was arrested on Thursday and faces 25 counts of filing a false or forged document with a public office. She is being held on $700,000 bail.
Photo: Screenshot of Rita Ortiz from an interview with ABC 7 Los Angeles
