Monday, May 17, 2010
Breaking News / Crime
James McConville, Alleged Fraudster Profiled By SF Weekly, Indicted For Real-Estate Scheme
Posted
By Peter Jamison
on Mon, May 17, 2010 at 11:15 AM
A federal grand jury has indicted James McConville, the eccentric Bay Area con artist whose real-estate schemes were detailed in a
SF Weekly cover story last August.
The indictment alleges that McConville, working with the help of phony "straw buyers" who were promised $5,000 to $10,000 apiece,
fraudulently purchased hundreds of condos across California. For the full details on how the scheme worked -- and the literally gory details of McConville's hobby as a maker of sub-B-grade horror films,
check out Anna McCarthy's story
McConville and five others were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A press release issued by the
United States Attorney's office on Friday stated that McConville has not been taken into custody and that his whereabouts are unknown. U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Jack Gillund said this morning that, as far as federal prosecutors know, McConville has still not been nabbed. (If you happen to spot him standing in line at the post office, the F.B.I. would probably like to know, and can be reached at [415] 553-7400.)
If convicted, McConville and his co-conspirators could spend at least 30 years in prison and face fines of at least $1 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Tags: Anna McCarthy, fraud, James McConville, realtors, U.S. Attorney's office, Image
