Fraud suspect turns self in

A Huntington Beach woman, who turned herself in to authorities Monday, on Tuesday denied authorities’ accusations that she bilked clients out of thousands of dollars in an alleged mortgage-adjustment fraud through her Costa Mesa business.

“I feel that the police did not listen to my clients who had successful loan modifications completed. I feel my side of the story needs to be heard,” Vickie Khanhvi Dang, 28, said in a statement.

“We have testimonials from dozens of grateful clients to support our work,” she added. “The law firm always worked on our clients’ cases and did not simply take their money and abandon them, as I have been wrongfully accused.”

Thirty-three criminal charges, including grand theft and the unauthorized practice of law, have been leveled against Dang, who turned herself in at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

The authorities allege that she ran a fraudulent mortgage-adjustment firm in Costa Mesa that bilked many clients out of thousands of dollars.

Dang posted $100,000 in bail bonds Monday, county records show.

Costa Mesa police and detectives from the Orange County district attorney’s office searched Dang’s Anton Boulevard office Sept. 30.

The 33 counts against Dang include grand theft, the unauthorized practice of law and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.

“Due to a disgruntled former employee and a few unhappy clients, Dang has been wrongfully accused,” her lawyer, William Weinberg, said in a statement Tuesday.

“Directing homeowners to the law firm she works for that negotiates loan modifications in Costa Mesa, Dang’s real estate knowledge, professionalism and compassion for homeowners stood out for over a hundred clients whose successful loan modifications enabled them to avoid becoming part of the national foreclosure statistic.”

In addition to himself, Weinberg said Dang has retained the services of a detective firm, called the Agency of Special Services.

Weinberg said his client was the marketing director for Dinh Law Firm, previously known as Laurel Capital Group, Alliance Group and Laurel Law Group.

She appeared on local Vietnamese radio stations twice a week to promote the firm, Weinberg said.

Authorities say Dang’s company told clients they would improve their mortgage payments or other debts in exchange for a 50% up-front charge. Police say the victims often never saw their money again.

Weinberg said more than 100 homeowners, including “some police officers, physicians, celebrities, and even real estate brokers who are in the business” used Dang for their loan modifications.

“They avoided foreclosure and have continued to tell their friends and family about Dang and the law firm she works for,” Weinberg said.

Dang’s arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Harbor Justice Center.