Filipino from Anaheim arrested for telemarketing fraud

Fraud suspect Sajid Quilatan Geronimo. SANTA CLARA DA PHOTO

SAN FRANCISCO — A 35-year-old Filipino was arrested and charged with felony crimes that victimized elderly Filipino-Americans in a scam that resulted in at least five victims losing more than $50,000.

Sajid Quilatan Geronimo of Anaheim, California was nabbed on November 26 at Los Angeles International Airport.

He was arraigned in Superior Court in San Jose on four charges of elder abuse and four counts of grand theft, but has not yet entered a plea, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Elder-abuse-charges-in-alleged-telemarketing-scam-5931217.php .

Geronimo allegedly falsely promised to refinance the victims’ mortgages and reduce their monthly payments, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

He is being held on $500,000 bail, facing more than 10 years of prison time if he is convicted on all counts.

Using the name James Alkin or James Arkin, Geronimo in December 2012 allegedly telephoned an elderly victim, presenting himself as a mortgage loan officer from a firm called HLA Processing out of Orange County, according to prosecutors.

Geronimo convinced the victim to recommend him to four others and promised to dramatically reduce their monthly mortgage payments by refinancing their home mortgages at lower interest rates and preventing the threat of foreclosure.

He falsely told two of the victims he represented a government program that would help them recover from a foreclosure or short sale if they made a cash deposit.

He allegedly sent victims fraudulent loan applications on fake Citibank Mortgage stationary, telling them to deposit their money into an escrow account for HLA Processing that was really his personal account, prosecutors said.

One other victim was located in Riverside. Investigators believe Geronimo may have defrauded people in Orange County and in Washington state.