San Jose couple suspected of real estate loan fraud arrested in Canada

Originaly by Mark Gomez:  A San Jose couple suspected of operating a fraudulent real estate home loan modification business have been arrested in Toronto following a six-month investigation.

San Jose police say Amir Rashidifar, 25, and Mary Delvecchio, 28, opened their business, Legal Support Services, in September and offered to modify real estate loans for homeowners facing default and foreclosure.

Police say the pair ran an elaborate operation and charged victims $3,000 to $4,000 to modify a loan, but the loans were not modified. So far, San Jose police have identified 129 victims.

The investigation started in late January after employees of Legal Support Services and 15 victims told police that Rashidifar and Delvecchio had been operating a fraudulent home loan business. Rashidifar and Delvecchio convinced victims that Legal Support Services was working in tandem with knowledgeable and experienced real estate attorneys in the loan modification business, according to officer Jermaine Thomas, a police spokesman.

A police investigation into Legal Support Services, at 2055 Junction Ave., revealed that Rashidifar and Delvecchio were not working with licensed attorneys, Thomas said.

In February, Rashidifar and Delvecchio fled the South Bay after learning of the police investigation, according to Thomas. Police determined that Rashidifar and Delvecchio went to Canada on May 26 and opened a new, fraudulent real estate loan modification business using false identities.

San Jose police coordinated its investigation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the RCMP Immigration Task Force and Canadian Border Services, who located and arrested Rashidifar and Delvecchio on July 10 at their residence in Toronto.

Rashidifar and Delvecchio are awaiting extradition proceedings in Canada and will be returned to the United State to face criminal charges in Santa Clara County.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact detective Dave Solis of the San Jose Police Department’s Fraud Unit at 408-277-4521. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP.