Former Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud: A...

Former Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud: A Costa Mesa man pleaded guilty to helping defraud more than 1,000 investors of $11.4 million in what federal authorities said was a widespread Orange County precious-metals scam. Randle W. Villa, a former vice president at Capital Trust Inc., was convicted on mail and wire fraud charges. Capital Trust, with offices in Newport Beach, Irvine and El Toro, allegedly embezzled money from investors and then tried to cover it up by providing them with phony transaction statements. Villa, 36, could receive up to 10 years in jail and be ordered to pay a $500,000 fine.