DATE: August 19, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney
SUBJECT: Annual Report of the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Receive and file annual report of the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution program pursuant to California Government Code Section 27388.
REPORT
This report will summarize the activities of the Office of the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Prosecution program from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable options available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with this action. The Real Estate Fraud Prosecution program is funded with recording fees, which fund 100% of the direct costs as well as a portion of indirect costs associated with this program. During FY 2024-25, the Unit expended a total of $687,207.53 which included personnel costs, operating expenses, and overhead allocations. Revenue in the amount of $616,574.16 was collected from the filing fees and interest earned, all of which was placed in the Unit's Special Revenue Fund which had a FY 2024-25 year-end balance of $1,100,174.24 after the final accounting.
DISCUSSION:
This report is prepared for the purposes of compliance with Government Code Section 27388 (d). This report will summarize the activities of the Office of the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Prosecution program from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The monies collected pursuant to Government Code Section 27388 fund the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit which is comprised of four positions for FY 2024-25: one Deputy District Attorney, two Senior DA Investigators and one Paralegal. These personnel are fully funded by the recording fees for investigation and prosecution of real estate fraud crimes.
For FY 2024-25, the Real Estate Fraud Unit received 28 cases for review from members of the community, local bu...
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