From the Office of the District Attorney:
Martinez, Calif. – The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office last week charged defendant Teresita Del Rosario of Brentwood with four felonies related to an investment fraud scheme. As a licensed broker and tax preparer for the victims in this case, Del Rosario asked the victims to give her money, with a promise that they would be paid back soon and would get a large return on their investment. She allegedly sent the money overseas to unknown persons in multiple countries. Del Rosario runs Best Haven Realty in Pittsburg and is licensed through the California Department of Real Estate.
Our Office’s Consumer Protection Unit is committed to protecting our residents against potential financial and invasive crimes. Members of the public should contact the DA’s Office if they suspect they were victimized as part of Del Rosario’s illegal scheme. Victims can call (925) 957-8650 or the Pittsburg Police Department at 925-252-4875. We suspect there are additional victims in Contra Costa County.
The victims trusted the defendant and gave her money over many years. The defendant in turn promised to invest this money overseas, totaling $89,500. Del Rosario promised the victims they would receive their initial investments back on a certain date and even claimed the investments would double in value. Some of the victims inquired with Del Rosario the status of their investment and she avoided giving specifics on timing.
On April 18, 2019, Del Rosario pleaded not guilty to the four felonies we filed against her. Her next court appearance is May 8, 2019. Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague with the Consumer Protection Unit is prosecuting the case on behalf of the People.
The felony counts are:
· Grand Theft of Personal Property
· Obtaining Money by False Pretenses
· Grand Theft of Personal Property
· Theft from Elder Adult
“Pssst. Over here. Double your money. No risk”
It turns out lots of people want to double their money with no risk.
Apparently a lot of them are voters, but that’s another story.
It is sad and deflating to see so many people fleeced of their money so regularly. We have to think twice and count out our pennies when shelling out for an ice cream cone – and yet some people appear more than willing to hand over thousands, tens of thousands, in hope of that “big score.”
The stock market runs on “greed and fear”, and apparently it’s built into our nature. It severely impairs judgment, especially when under financial stress. Truly shameful to prey on the vulnerable when you have the means to do real work yourself.
It is shameful to prey on the vulnerable, especially the elderly. I’m not into investing, but never invest money you can’t afford to lose. Most people lose money in the market because they don’t know what they’re doing. Under financial stress isn’t the right time to be investing.