Estate Financial of Atascadero (defunct)
Estate Financial Inc of Atascadero, principals Joshua Yaguda and Karen Guth.
Three former employees of now defunct Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) claim they witnessed fraudulent behavior while employed at the Paso Robles hard money lending firm.
On 7 Dec, 2009 San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jac Crawford sentenced Estate Financial, Inc. principal Karen Guth to 12 years in prison and Joshua Yaguda to eight years for fraudulently selling securities without the proper licenses, lying to investors and stealing or destroying property worth $3.2 million. Guth and Yaguda pleaded guilty in October to 26 felony counts after Crawford offered a plea
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PDFRound two in the Guth and Yaguda asset battle
The battle over the assets of Estate Financial principals Joshua Yaguda and Karen Guth is slated to resume next month. Earlier today, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jac Crawford continued the asset distribution hearing until next month when banks, developers and a variety of other creditors can resume their quest for financial recovery.... (Continue Reading)
Former Estate Financial principal files bankruptcy
Don Vaughn, the former owner of Estate Financial, Inc. (EFI) has filed for bankruptcy, is accused of defrauding investors through his hard money lending company, and is at risk of losing his contractor’s license for failing to pay a civil judgment. [Tribune] Vaughn sold EFI to Karen Guth and Charlie Applebaum in 1994. Vaughn than […]... (Continue Reading)
Estate Financial principals sentenced
San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jac Crawford sentenced Estate Financial, Inc. principal Karen Guth to 12 years in prison and Joshua Yaguda to eight years for fraudulently selling securities without the proper licenses, lying to investors and stealing or destroying property worth $3.2 million. Guth and Yaguda pleaded guilty in October to 26 felony counts after Crawford offered a plea... (Continue Reading)
Estate Financial principals plead guilty to all charges
By KAREN VELIE The North County mother-and-son team who ran Estate Financial Inc. have been convicted of fraudulently selling securities without the proper licenses, lying to investors, and stealing or destroying property worth $3.2 million. Estate Financial owners Karen Guth and her son, Joshua Yaguda, pleaded guilty today in the San Luis Obispo Superior Court to 26 felony counts and five enhancements.... (Continue Reading)
Estate financial principals to plead guilty to all charges
Karen Guth and Joshua Yaguda’s attorneys informed the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s office they plan to plead guilty to 23 felony counts on Monday morning. “This is not a plea bargain, so the defendants are required to plead guilty to all counts and admit all enhancements as charged,” according to a KSBY article.... (Continue Reading)
Guth and Yaguda plead not guilty
By KAREN VELIE Estate Financial Principles Karen Guth and Joshua Yaguda Friday pleaded not guilty in San Luis Obispo Superior Court to charges they defrauded millions of dollars from more than 3,000 people. Prosecutors have charged Guth and her son Yaguda with 26 felony counts associated with a hard money lending business the pair led.... (Continue Reading)
EFI judge slashes lawyer fees
By KAREN VELIE A federal bankruptcy judge slashed fee requests and ordered professionals working on the Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) bankruptcy to practice frugality in an attempt to protect assets for EFI investors at a hearing on Wednesday in Santa Barbara Federal Bankruptcy Court. “I don’t want to see money frittered away on fees,” Judge Robin Riblet said. “No one should be... (Continue Reading)
Heritage Oaks Bank versus the investors
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Heritage Oaks Bank is battling with Estate Financial Inc. and Hurst Financial investors over first place in the quest for financial compensation. Attorneys for the bank are chasing first position in the pursuit for assets of fraud suspects Karen Guth and Josh Yaguda Estate Financial Inc. (EFI), and Hurst Financial, and in some cases, trying to... (Continue Reading)
U.S. trustee objects to EFI fees
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A federal bankruptcy judge overseeing the division of assets of failed North County hard money lender Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) balked Wednesday at professional fee requests totaling nearly $4 million and said she will examine those claims more closely. Trustees of EFI’s funds sought the court's approval of the fees for themselves, attorneys, and others working... (Continue Reading)
EFI financial battle hints at new suspects
By KAREN VELIE A third figure emerged as a possible suspect in fraud precipitating the collapse of hard money lender Estate Financial Inc. (EFI) during yesterday's courtroom squabble over the remains of the once rich and influential entity. San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Jac Crawford said questions linger about one-time co-owner Charlie Applebaum’s possible participation in alleged EFI crimes. Crawford... (Continue Reading)
