Five charged with beating loan modification agents
A La Canada Flintridge couple trying to save their home from foreclosure were arrested along with three others on suspicion of beating, torturing and robbing a pair of loan modification agents they believed had done nothing to help them rescue the residence.
Daniel Weston and Mary Ann Parmelee, both 52, allegedly sought mortgage assistance from Lamond Dean and Luis Garcia, two loan modification specialists, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Authorities said the homeowners thought agents had taken their money and done nothing to help them.
On Oct. 20, the agents were lured to a meeting in Glendale where Weston and another man, Gustavo Canez, 36, allegedly beat and robbed them, prosecutors said.
Authorities said a handgun and wooden knuckles were used in the attack.
The attack took place in front of Parmelee, who is a real estate agent; Mario Solomon Gonzales, 47, of Glendale; and Marissa Parker, 49, of Sylmar. Gonzalez and Parker work with Parmelee to refer loan cases to Dean and Garcia, officials said.
Dean and Garcia were treated and released from a local hospital, officials said.
Parmelee, Gonzales and Parker face two counts each of torture, false imprisonment by violence and second-degree robbery.
Gonzales also faces one count of possession of a deadly weapon because he was allegedly carrying the wooden knuckles, the complaint states.
Parmelee, Gonzales and Parker pleaded not guilty Friday. Weston and Canez were in court Monday, and their cases were continued to Nov. 2.
All are being held on $1-million bail.
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