Real Estate Broker, Agent Charged With Theft, Defrauding Area Homes

Two businessmen were recently arrested and each charged with 102 felony counts of grand theft and identity theft, crimes that reportedly spread across two counties.

John Martynec, 38, from Long Beach, and Elek Andrade, 27, from Downey, were arrested at their homes June 27 on the above charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The men are being held in lieu of $1,789,949 bail.

The men are accused of being connected to a large fraud scheme and also stealing a reported $1.8 million from their employer, JTR Real Estate, according to information released by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Some of the defrauded properties were reportedly in Covina, as well as West Covina, Pomona and Whittier.

During their employment at the business from November 2003 to July 2008, the two men allegedly issued false "move out" invoices to the company during eviction periods when JTR Real Estate was purchasing the properties, often occupied by renters. The men claimed cash payouts were offered to the renters when no such offers were made.

The identities of actual people were stolen, according to officials, and placed on the fraudulent "move out" notices. The suspects then allegedly pocketed the cash. The men also reportedly submitted false invoices to their employer for work that was never done on the properties in question.

Investigators believe Martynec used the defrauded money to extensively renovate his home in Long Beach. The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Commercial Crimes Bureau.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Rodney Barton at Commercial Crimes Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at (562) 619-6351. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the web site lacrimestoppers.org