After battling for a cut of developer Kelly Gearhart’s Vista del Hombre property, Heritage Oaks Bank in San Luis Obispo walked away with most of the controversial developer’s land in Paso Robles. At the same time, a federal bankruptcy court in... (Continue reading)
Stewart Title settled with investors of former North County developer Kelly Gearhart for approximately 27 percent of their investments in seven lots off Highway 41 near U.S. Highway 101 in Atascadero. Stewart Title paid investors in the five residential lots and... (Continue reading)
Amid a federal investigation into racketeering, money laundering and mail fraud, developer Kelly Gearhart’s stepmother claims her notorious stepson’s illicit activities also included forgery, bribing public officials and arson. The latter exploit was one that helped fund Gearhart’s transition from being... (Continue reading)
Federal prosecutors prompted a federal grand jury to look into the alleged criminal acts of Hurst financial principal Jay Miller. [Tribune] Miller is one of the subjects of a two-year racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud investigation that includes former... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Several investors in Hurst Financial Inc’s (HFI) hard money lending schemes thrust HFI President Jay Miller into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy citing Miller’s failure to repay loans he personally guaranteed. Before their meltdown a little more than a year... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE North county developer Jimmie Shores, his brother Ronnie Shores, and Hurst Financial Inc. (HFI) President Jay Miller, in twisted and conflicting deposition testimonies and interviews, each maintains one of the others is responsible for paying back $700,000 to... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Investors have filed a lawsuit alleging Stewart Title and Heritage Oaks Bank (HOB) aided and abetted and/or conspired with Hurst Financial Inc. (HFI) in defrauding hundreds of seniors through illegal investment schemes. The suit filed by more than 300... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE The FBI seized proceeds from Hurst Financial Inc. (HFI) President Jay Miller’s home May 27 because of allegations of racketeering, money laundering, and wire fraud, according to the seizure warrant. “A racket is an illegal business, usually run as... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN A secret, decade-long, eight-phase strategy by a group of local investors – including one notorious individual now under investigation for fraud – outlines plans for construction of a Indian gaming casino in San Luis Obispo... (Continue reading)
By KAREN VELIE Prominent North County developer Jimmie Shores says he doesn’t have to repay a $700,000 hard-money loan because his brother, Ronnie Shores, stole the money, while Hurst Financial President Jay Miller, maintains the Shores are trying to defraud investors. “I... (Continue reading)