Real estate fraud could bring Windsor plumber 7 years in prison

<p>A Windsor plumber pleaded no-contest Thursday to 19 felony counts of real estate fraud in a scam that cost investors more than $1 million.</p><p>Juan Carlos Alcala, 32, will receive upt to seven years in prison at his March 24 sentencing under an agreement that avoids trial, Deputy District Attorney Robin Hammond said.</p><p>“This is one of the most serious cases I've handled,” said Hammond, a fraud prosecutor. “Given the fact that we have a lot of victims throughout the community and an elder victim ... it's obviously significant.”</p><p>The crime came to light in 2008 after Alcala's undeveloped Limerick Lane property fell into foreclosure and was taken over by several investors, Hammond said.</p><p>An assessment revealed Alcala's appraisal had been inflated through the use of bogus documents, including one written on forged county letterhead claiming a septic system had been installed when it really had not, Hammond said.</p><p>Another fake letter from a private contractor attested to equipment purchases that never happened, Hammond said.</p><p>At one point after the property was in foreclosure, Alcala attempted to sell the land to an undercover detective and was arrested, she said. </p><p>Further investigation revealed he had also defrauded an 80-year-old Sebastopol woman out of $450,0000 over three years ending in 2008. The woman initially hired him for plumbing work.</p><p>Alcala told the woman he needed money to invest in property he was fixing and persuaded her to give him $200,000 in cash and take out three mortgages on a home she owned outright, Hammond said.</p><p>“It got to the point where he would never leave without a check in hand,” Hammond said.</p><p>Instead of making the investments, Alcala deposited the funds in a bank and withdrew them the same day in the form of a cashier's check, Hammond said.</p><p>It was unclear what he spent the money on, she said.</p><p>He faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $2 million if convicted in a trial that was supposed to start last month. </p><p>But Alcala entered his no-contest pleas to the felonies and allegations including elder fraud in exchange for an indicated sentence from Judge Gary Medvigy. He will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims, Hammond said.</p>