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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
Editor’s note: This is the second and final article in a series of stories examining how the development of Pasolivo olive ranch was funded through Estate Financial Inc. and how the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court-controlled asset is being... (Continue reading)
Editor’s note: This is Part One in a series examining how Pasolivo olive ranch was funded and how today it is being managed by Joeli Yaguda under the direction of the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s office. By KAREN VELIE A Paso... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)
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... (Continue reading)