Five face felony charges in beating of two loan officers

Five people face multiple felony charges in connection with the beating and torture of two loan modification agents, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced today.

Daniel Weston, 52, of La Cañada and Gustavo Canez, 36, of Los Angeles were charged today with two counts of torture, two counts of false imprisonment by violence and two counts of second-degree robbery in the alleged attacks against Lamond Dean and Luis Garcia.

Weston and Canez also allegedly used a handgun during the assault, the complaint states.

Weston and Mary Ann Parmelee, 52, were living in a foreclosed home and sought mortgage assistance from Dean and Garcia. The complaint alleges Weston and Parmelee were unsatisfied with the loan officers' efforts and wanted their money back.

At a meeting arranged last Tuesday to discuss the issue, Weston and Canez allegedly beat and robbed Dean and Garcia in front of Parmelee and Mario Soloman Gonzalez, 47, of Glendale and Marissa Parker, 49, of Sylmar, the complaint states. Gonzalez and Parker work with Parmelee, a real estate agent, to refer loan cases to Dean and Garcia, officials said.

Dean and Garcia suffered minor injuries and have been released from the hospital, officials said.

Parmelee, Gonzalez and Parker face two counts of torture, two counts of false imprisonment by violence and two counts of second-degree robbery. Gonzales also faces one count of possession of a deadly weapon because he was allegedly carrying wooden knuckles, the complaint states.

All three pleaded not guilty Friday. Weston and Canez were to be arraigned this afternoon at the county courthouse in Glendale. Bail was recommended at $2.1 million for Weston and $2.8 million for Canez, who was convicted in 2000 of assault with a firearm.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Norma Serna, who filed the case, declined to comment.

-- Baxter Holmes

Comments

[Da Maverick]

WHat?! This is a felony? C'mon judge, cut 'em a break....they were loan modification sharks.

They had it coming!

[Turbuine Legend]

Ya Judge... go audit their office.. they're all snakes!

[Joe Finance]

Joe S. says:

Response to beating of Loan Modification Agents.
People are so stupid, it is odd that these homeowners did not go to the bank that did not approve their modification.
The banks and press have made the bad guy those that would help homeowners, (Both good and bad companies). Meanwhile, the banks foreclosed on 1.5 million homeowners and will foreclose on 12 to 16 million before this cycle is over. We have not seen anything yet..
Professional help has always been for a fee... Professional people do not work for free and those that would, should be avoided, that is reality. Legitimate help is now illegal or free (as of Oct. 11,2009)??? I don't see professional help for homeowners any more...
So watch the banks, they lie, they cheat, they trick, and they foreclose on those that are qualify for help.. Now who will stop them not Brokers and not Lawyers... That is an amazing victory for banking, and a amazing defeat for consumers!!!
These upset frustrated people beat up the person who tried to help them. Yes the service did not work and they have lost. But who is to blame. 93% of Bank of America's eligible "Making Homes Affordable Program" got no help... Bank of America called there campaign to help homeowners "puffery" in court... They have no intent of helping... They lie to congress, they trick customers that it is 3rd parties that have let them down. They lied to California’s legislation and have successfully convinced California that Loan Modification companies are the villain, and outlawed professional help...
I guess we are all "Dumb Californians". Dumb and Homeless... Great job banks,,, your client have no representation... And they must now fight your legal team in pro per .. Homeowners good luck!!!! You had better pay on time,,,
The banks will continue to walk on homeowners. Why not there is no way to stop them.. Oddly still, we have spent 1.8 trillion dollars in taxes to keep banks open..
The banks and the press have convinced these people, as dumb as it is that the help they paid for is the issue, and not the banks not helping... The real issue is a complex loan modification process that homeowners are designed to fail. Set-up by the banks to help few... Puffery not help!!!

“Wake Up California Your Homeless”