Agenda

Return

C. 51

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Doug MacMaster, Chief Assistant District Attorney
Date:	September 19, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

District Attorney's Annual Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Report for FY 2016/17

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/19/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Cherie Mathisen, (925)957-2234

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 19, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ACCEPT the fiscal year 2016/17 Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund Annual Report and APPROVE the continued expenditure of funds from the County’s Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund for the fiscal year 2017/2018.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None. The District Attorney’s office will continue to receive the money in the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund for the fiscal year 2017/2018, in which revenue for fiscal year 2016/17 totaled $561,532.50.

BACKGROUND:

The State Legislature has determined that there is a need to enhance the capacity of local police and prosecutors to deter, investigate and prosecute real estate fraud crimes. The District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit investigates and prosecutes serious and significant cases involving fraudulent transactions that can cause unsuspecting victims to lose their life savings and homes. These crimes are traditionally not investigated by local police agencies that do not have the expertise to identify when fraud has occurred in legally complex real estate transactions. The District Attorney’s Office has worked diligently to collaborate with the Contra Costa County Recorder’s Office to put in place a Fraud Notification program and a Mortgage and Foreclosure Advisory Program, thus the continued funding of the Real Estate Fraud Unit is essential to continue these programs.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The District Attorney's Office will not be in compliance with statute.