Recent Stories

  1. Crisp & Cole agent sentenced to 27 months

    By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
    Monday, Jan 30 2012 07:20 PM

    A federal judge Monday sentenced a former sales agent with the now defunct real estate firm of Crisp, Cole & Associates to 27 months in prison for his role in a massive mortgage fraud case.

    U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill sentenced Robinson Dinh Nguyen, 31, of Fresno, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $433,000 in restitution for conspiring to commit mail, wire and bank fraud.

    "I think it was a fair sentence for a crime for which he took responsibility early," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley A. Boone, one of two prosecuting the case. "He came in early and pleaded guilty, which says a lot."

    Nguyen's attorney, Steven L. Crawford, did not immediately respond to messages left by telephone and email.

    Nguyen pleaded guilty Oct. 7 of last year, admitting that between January 2004 and September 2007, he and a group of co-conspirators defrauded mortgage lenders and banks by submitting fraudulent statements in mortgage loan applications and related documents, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

  2. Lender asks to delay civil trial against Crisp, Cole, others

    A lawyer for the former Fremont Investment and Loan has asked for a delay in its civil trial against a group of people who worked for or with Crisp, Cole & Associates, a defunct Bakersfield real estate firm whose principals are under federal indictment in a mortgage fraud case.

  3. Judge in Crisp & Cole case chooses October for next court date

    A federal judge in the Crisp & Cole Real Estate mortgage fraud case on Friday scheduled the next status conference for Oct. 7, agreeing with defense lawyers that several months were needed to review extensive computer evidence seized by the government.

  4. Crisp & Cole defendant wants his belt back

    There are belts and then there are belts. The black leather one that a Kern County Sheriff's deputy removed from the waist of Bakersfield mortgage fraud defendant Jayson Costa was the kind you don't easily forget.

  5. Last Crisp & Cole defendant released pending trial

    Jayson Costa, one of 10 people connected to Crisp & Cole Real Estate facing federal prosecution for allegedly engaging in mortgage fraud, was released on bail Thursday following a hearing in Fresno.

  6. Crisp ordered released from custody

    David Crisp, a former real estate executive now facing federal mortgage fraud charges, was ordered released from custody Wednesday and was expected to return to Bakersfield to live with his wife and son at his sister's home.

  7. Bail hearing for Crisp & Cole defendant delayed

    A bail review hearing for former loan officer Jayson Peter Costa was continued Monday to 11 a.m. Thursday to allow defense attorneys, pretrial services and prosecutors to look further into some concerns raised privately with U.S. Magistrate Judge Sandra M. Snyder.

  8. Crisp & Cole defendants have court hearing

    Ten people connected to Crisp & Cole Real Estate, including principals David Crisp and Carl Cole, had a hearing Friday in front of the judge who will hear their case in federal court.

  9. Judge deems Cole a flight risk

    A federal judge in Fresno sided Monday with prosecutors arguing that mortgage fraud defendant Carl Cole poses a flight risk and may need to be detained.

  10. David Crisp

    Crisp to stay in custody, be transferred to Fresno

    Former Realtor David Crisp, one of 10 people connected to Crisp & Cole Real Estate facing federal prosecution for alleged mortgage fraud, will remain in jail after a hearing in San Diego Thursday.

  11. GRETCHEN WENNER: Flipping, straw buyers and foreclosure

    Back in 2006, when David Crisp was a 26-year-old millionaire wearing a $50,000 Chanel watch that glittered with hundreds of diamonds, he told The Californian he planned to be a billionaire by 35.

  12. Defendant in Crisp & Cole case to remain in custody

    Jayson Costa, one of 10 people connected to Crisp & Cole Real Estate facing federal prosecution for allegedly engaging in mortgage fraud, was held detained in Fresno County Jail at a detention hearing Tuesday.

  13. 11504 Haydock Court.JPG

    How three Crisp & Cole foreclosures unfolded

    It may be some time before we know how the federal case against David Crisp, Carl Cole and eight others unfolds in court.