P. v. Hidalgo
This real estate fraud case involves defendant Oralia Hidalgo's attempt to fraudulently acquire, and then sell, real property located at 1329 Mount Vernon Avenue in the City of Colton (the property), in San Bernardino County, by means of forgery, counterfeiting, and other criminal acts. As discussed more fully in the factual background section of this opinion, Hidalgo recorded on the same day two grant deeds containing a total of four forged signatures and two counterfeited notary public seals. The first grant deed (instrument No. 2003-0549141, hereafter referred to as Grant Deed A) purported to convey the property, without the knowledge of the lawful owners, as a gift to a real estate agent with whom Hidalgo was doing business. The second grant deed (instrument No. 2003-0549142, hereafter referred to as Grant Deed B) purported to convey the property from that real estate agent to Hidalgo. Hidalgo forged three signatures on Grant Deed A: the signatures of the owner of the property, her deceased husband, and a notary public. On Grant Deed B, Hidalgo forged a fourth signature, that of the notary public. On both Grant Deed A and Grant Deed B, she also counterfeited the seal of the notary public.
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