Press Room > Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney Kamala D. Harris announced today that Edwin Parada, age 30 and CTN 2377902, was held to answer for trial on eight felony counts of grand theft in violation of Penal Code Section 487(a).

"The ability to purchase and maintain one’s own home is a fundamental dream for most Americans," said District Attorney Kamala D. Harris. "The prosecution of thieving realtors and other dishonest individuals working in the real estate industry is vital to homeowners who depend on law enforcement to keep the money they have invested in their homes safe from predators," said District Attorney Kamala D. Harris.

DA Harris added, "For allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from eight of his trusting customers, this defendant, a former realtor, has been charged and ordered to stand trial."

The ruling was handed down on December 29, 2008, by the Honorable Anne Bouliane in Department 624 of San Francisco Superior Court at the conclusion of a 5-day preliminary hearing in which the defendant did not testify. The defendant was also held to answer on an allegation in violation of Penal Code Section 12022.6(a)(2) for allegedly taking money in excess of $200,000 from the eight named victims.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by San Francisco Police Department Inspector Robert Steger. Alan Kennedy is the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the case.

The defendant, formerly a realtor with offices at 5700 Mission Street in San Francisco, and also the former owner of several restaurants, is accused of stealing money from eight different persons. The thefts occurred over a period of time from 2005 to 2007.

Most of the victims’ dealings with defendant Parada originated from his real estate business. Five victims came to him requesting assistance in purchasing a home, selling a home, or doing a refinance of an existing home. In all of the cases, defendant Parada successfully persuaded the victim to give him money, either as an investment, a loan, or for him to hold for unspecified reasons. In each case, defendant Parada subsequently failed to return the money given to him by the victim. One of the ways in which defendant Parada gained the attention of his some of his victims was through a paid Spanish-language radio program he hosted that dealt with real estate and religion.

Defendant Parada was arrested on a District Attorney’s warrant on July 23, 2008 in San Francisco, California, by members of the San Francisco Police Department and was immediately taken into custody.

The defendant remains in custody on $750,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment on the found charges in Department 22 of San Francisco Superior Court on January 13, 2009.

The investigation into defendant Parada’s alleged activities is ongoing. Individuals who suspect that they may have been victimized by the defendant should contact the San Francisco Police Department.

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