Questions & Depositions — OC Legal Portal

Each question targets an actor and maps to statutes. Truthful answers = felony admissions; refusal = Fifth Amendment invocation.

Phat Tran (Owner)

  1. State your full legal name exactly as on your passport.
    18 U.S.C. §1621 (Perjury): Lying under oath is a felony.
  2. Have you used alternate spellings on contracts, bank records, or court filings?
    18 U.S.C. §1343 (Wire Fraud): Using false identities to transmit documents = felony.
  3. Identify all accounts where tenant rent was deposited 2022–2024.
    18 U.S.C. §1344 (Bank Fraud): Routing rent into personal/unlawful accounts is felony bank fraud.
  4. Did you direct payments to a Wells Fargo account outside broker trust?
    B&P §10145 + 18 U.S.C. §1344: Trust account misuse is felony and license violation.
  5. Admit that June rent was tendered and acknowledged before you served the 3-day notice.
    18 U.S.C. §1341 (Mail Fraud): Serving false UD notice = felony. Kwok v. Bergren (1982) — tender bars UD.
  6. Explain why no walk-through was conducted before claiming $20,980 in damages.
    Civ. Code §1950.5: Failure to inspect before deductions = violation, fraud when claimed anyway.
  7. Have family members used aliases in real estate or banking?
    18 U.S.C. §1343 + Cal. Penal §470: Alias use = forgery + wire fraud.
  8. Why did you proceed with eviction after your agent texted “Hanson has the check”?
    18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1343: Concealing known payment = felony mail/wire fraud.
  9. Did you operate Airbnb rentals in 2024 without license?
    HB Code 5.120: Civil penalty $1,000/day; shows motive for fraud eviction.
  10. Identify every certified letter you received and why no restitution check was returned.
    18 U.S.C. §1341 (Mail Fraud): Ignoring certified notices while concealing funds = felony.

Hanson Le (Agent)

  1. On 2024-04-19 you wrote “Hanson has the check”; why was it not deposited to trust?
    18 U.S.C. §1344 (Bank Fraud): Misuse of entrusted funds = felony.
  2. List all bank accounts you used to receive tenant payments April–July 2024.
    18 U.S.C. §1343 (Wire Fraud): Receiving payments off-record = felony.
  3. Did you threaten eviction unless tenants signed your renewal by Monday 4/29/24?
    Cal. Penal §518 (Extortion): Threatening eviction for money = felony extortion.
  4. Describe all communications with BHHS/Ethos after receiving tenant funds.
    18 U.S.C. §1962(d) (RICO Conspiracy): Concealment w/ corporate = RICO predicate.
  5. Why did you resign on 2024-05-13 but continue to act on the lease?
    Cal. Penal §470 (Forgery): Acting without authority on documents = felony.
  6. Admit that July e-check was returned after delay and used to claim non-payment.
    18 U.S.C. §1344 (Bank Fraud): Mischaracterizing tender = felony.
  7. Identify every time you presented yourself as BHHS after resignation.
    18 U.S.C. §1343 (Wire Fraud): False representation = felony.
  8. Did you split funds or kickbacks with Phat Tran or LY Construction?
    18 U.S.C. §1343 + §1962(c): Wire fraud + racketeering = felony.
  9. Why did you tell tenants “keep paying the owner” after resignation?
    Civ. Fraud/UCL: Misleading directives = fraud.
  10. Admit you received certified mail notice of fraud and chose not to respond.
    18 U.S.C. §1341 (Mail Fraud): Ignoring certified fraud notice = felony.

Anna Ly (Realtor)

  1. Did you transmit any lease under a name other than your passport identity?
    18 U.S.C. §1343 + Cal. Penal §470: Alias transmission = forgery & wire fraud.
  2. Why does DocuSign audit show tenancy history removed and co-tenant omitted?
    Cal. Penal §470 (Forgery): Alteration of tenancy history = forgery felony.
  3. Confirm whether “ocean view” and “in-unit laundry” were advertised.
    B&P §17500 (False Ads): Misrepresentation = civil penalty, fraud basis.
  4. Did you disclaim renewal responsibility after issuing DocuSign?
    B&P §10176: Misrep. in real estate practice.
  5. Identify all entities you transmitted renewals through.
    Fraud / Agency Abuse: Concealing principals = fraud.
  6. List all license numbers you used on contracts 2022–2024.
    B&P §10176: Misrep. of license = discipline.
  7. Admit omission of deposit terms in renewal drafts.
    Civ. Fraud: Concealing deposit language = fraud.
  8. State every name variation under which you transmitted leases.
    Forgery Felony: False name use = Penal §470.
  9. Explain coordination with LY Construction on repairs.
    Civ. Code §1941.1: Habitability concealment = liability.
  10. Identify any direct communication with Silverstein about “new applicant.”
    Conspiracy — 18 U.S.C. §371: Agreement to defraud = felony.

Steven Silverstein (Eviction Counsel)

  1. Identify all UD documents you filed asserting arrears and what evidence you reviewed.
    CCP §128.7: False filing certification = sanctionable, fraud basis.
  2. Admit you presented a “returned check” envelope without chain of custody.
    18 U.S.C. §1503 (Obstruction): False evidence = felony obstruction.
  3. Admit the 3-day notice omitted lawful co-tenants.
    CCP §1161: Defective notice = unlawful detainer void.
  4. Identify all exhibits contradicting arrears claims that you refused to file.
    CRPC 3.3 / B&P §6106: Concealment = moral turpitude felony.
  5. Did you file eviction on lease signed by resigned agent?
    Fraud on Court: Filing void doc = felony misrepresentation.
  6. Why did you ignore certified letters showing payment was tendered?
    18 U.S.C. §1341: Ignoring certified proofs = mail fraud.
  7. Admit you misled court about tenancy length.
    Obstruction + Perjury Aid: Deceit on record = felony.
  8. List all contacts with BHHS corporate re this case.
    18 U.S.C. §1962(c): Enterprise conduct = RICO liability.
  9. Explain why you didn’t disclose Hanson’s resignation.
    CRPC 3.3: Duty of candor breached.
  10. Admit you prosecuted after actual notice of fraud.
    B&P §6106: Moral turpitude felony if true.

BHHS Corporate / Ethos

  1. Admit corporate legal received fraud alerts and declined to audit.
    18 U.S.C. §1962: Racketeering participation = RICO felony.
  2. Identify who signed for the 1-lb certified package on 2024-05-30.
    18 U.S.C. §1341: Mail fraud if suppressed.
  3. State what actions were taken within 48 hours of receiving certified notice.
    Negligence / Obstruction: Failing to act shows complicity.
  4. Did you forward complaints to Berkshire HQ?
    Corporate Negligence: Apparent agency liability.
  5. Admit brand was used on void contracts after resignation.
    Agency Doctrine: Liability attaches to franchisor.
  6. List all audits done at HB office 2022–2024.
    Supervision Duty: Failure = civil fraud liability.
  7. Did you discipline Hanson or Anna Ly?
    Negligence: Failure = corporate exposure.
  8. Admit you received multiple certified letters without reply.
    Mail Fraud: Suppression = felony.
  9. Identify all emails from Plaintiff logged in servers.
    Discovery Abuse: Suppression = sanctionable.
  10. Why did you continue to collect fees after notice of fraud?
    18 U.S.C. §1962(c): RICO enrichment.

Richard Rosiak (Former Counsel)

  1. State why you withdrew after $8,000 retainer and list withheld materials.
    Fraud / B&P §6106: Abandonment = moral turpitude felony.
  2. Admit you failed to file key exhibits provided to you.
    Negligence / Malpractice: Damages to client rights.
  3. Did you advise the court of certified payment proofs?
    CRPC 3.3: Candor breach = discipline.
  4. Why did you wait until 8 days before trial to notify withdrawal?
    Bad Faith: Prejudice client.
  5. Admit you knew client was disabled and on monitor during litigation.
    ADA + Ethics: Violation.
  6. List all communications with Silverstein about settlement.
    Conspiracy: If collusion, RICO predicate.
  7. Admit you held damages table and did not submit it.
    Negligence / Fraud
  8. Identify any client files not returned.
    Conversion: Felony if intent.
  9. Admit your Yelp history of abandonment in other cases.
    Pattern Evidence: Ethics / Discipline
  10. Explain why you accepted fees but abandoned trial prep.
    B&P §6106: Moral turpitude felony.