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Danville CEO Arrested on Suspicion of Defrauding Wells Fargo out of $1.2 Million Mortgage

Darren Wassell attempted to get out of his $1.2 million mortgage by forging a document releasing him of the mortgage, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.

The CEO of a Danville-based real estate investment company was arrested Friday on suspicion of illegally unloading himself from his $1.2 million mortgage, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Darren Wassell, 42, has been charged with conspiracy, forgery, burglary, passing insufficient fund checks and attempting to file false documents. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and eight months. Bail is set at $100,000.

Wassell was a real estate agent until his license expired in 2010. He is currently the CEO of Still Creek Capital, LLC, a real-estate investment limited liability company.

The district attorney's office said Wassell purchased a five bedroom, three bath Danville home with a $1.2 million mortgage in 2005. In 2011, Wells Fargo moved to foreclose the home. Wassell then filed a fraudulent Deed of Full Reconveyance, which released Wassell of the mortgage.

In addition, the district attorney's office believe Wassell briefly opened and closed a checking account with US Bank in 2011. After the account was closed, he sent Wells Fargo a check for about $1.5 million. The check bounced for insufficient funds.

"This office will prosecute anyone who deceives victims and businesses of their hard-earned money in any real estate fraud scheme," Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark A. Peterson said. "We will not tolerate swindlers nor financial predators in our community.”

Wassell is being prosecuted by the Real Estate Fraud Unit of Contra Costa County.

In his social media profiles, Wassell appears to be family oriented and a man of faith.

He describes himself on his Twitter account as "Christian, Husband, Father, Friend, Youth Group Leader, Real Estate Lover."

KJ February 14, 2013 at 12:39 am
Non-Republican, A frivolous attack against people you don't know using this unfortunate story reveals a lot about your character & beliefs. Perhaps you would be less judgemental if he was an illegal alien, a drug addict, or a democratic politician.
anon February 14, 2013 at 09:28 pm
I believe they were already losing their home to foreclosure when he decided to frauduently record a false deed of reconvayance on the property to show it had been paid off. Did he really think that WF would not due its due diligence? He sent a rubber check for $1.5 milliion dollars to WF. He was probably hoping things would criss cross at WF and they would think he actually paid off his mortgage.
Whether his wife knew or not....that is another story. After losing his license, he is now a RE Investor? I say everyone start looking for your money.
anon February 14, 2013 at 09:29 pm
Is is Still Creek or Steal Creek?
anon February 14, 2013 at 09:52 pm
what was he trying to do?
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:NXEtBOZMGEMJ:www.nationalrepublicregistry.com/public/2011/CA/02.06.000001.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgBgvEjMZM_9-Vt4YSkKSZsHnwmuc4r6VyzOUjopOBAMJXvl6yZZFr4ag1LyhKttG4Tx6ajB9b7LeYGDhVr9WCqswDARlzcl6tuAwi3-rf4JNsdXuFRysCKYsj11HzMMogWNx7g&sig=AHIEtbQmNV4jyowSEXNfgGfg4ODkcOf-EA https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:De3PVvi--7oJ:www.nationalrepublicregistry.com/public/2011/CA/02.09.000003.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjUySXy6iF2VC7_ZgDhfrrpzvwgLCeCletS2ZNDz4W4BKXo0M8vMXGmQHY1GiQK6KYD9RRWEKjGpjtFVWrqXvSKR5nFbFZGjxgxR4pWN6kB2E_MSjAW_1_yJ3Cq0ylsG0Dxym_4&sig=AHIEtbQzJNcKJ6_2tDB1fSJ-2Ie9E3l2fg https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Cyi9FL9QXL4J:www.nationalrepublicregistry.com/public/2011/CA/02.09.000004.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjafruuLm3v4p5kPI-09nK3M-tov9S_vL79XM8KqwGmKGNKSqs05A20BpEVIINdXHkRUCSDMdsZlIzVcEFT8W9LtuGv4br-sZJoqK1L3ZiaCxTBmTH4ooDn9UVuuqIw3WREv9nT&sig=AHIEtbSjSBITLjEqdv0JKE5cfz0a9UinbQ
Tom February 14, 2013 at 10:49 pm
something tells me Brian Ravin may have a few things on his mind....
Mike Z February 14, 2013 at 11:16 pm
The above mentioned lender of last resort has a website:
http://www.equiturn.com Watch the video...what a complete mess of a web of bottom feeders this story is.
Tom February 15, 2013 at 02:02 am
What a sleezy video, I need to take a shower now.
Ravi February 15, 2013 at 04:10 pm
It looks like filing the false deed of reconvayance was one tactic, but it also looks like he was also borrowing from a hard money lender who was previously associated with a company that tried to profit from negotiating principal reductions in short sales. Could the two be connected? It's confusing and I cant tell what the exact scam was but it would sure seem easier to get a real job and just pay your mortgage.
anon February 15, 2013 at 04:32 pm
It looks like he asked the lender for hard copy (original signature) of deed of trust and when lender did not produce it in Wassell's time frame, he felt the lender was in "default" and now the home was his free and clear. What a moron. He is definetly shady. Got around not having a RE License by being starting Still Creek Capital LLC, as some sort of RE Investment club.
KAC February 15, 2013 at 04:56 pm
This whole thing is very shady at best, and possibly criminal per the DA's charges.
Mr. Wassell was listed as one of the "Wealth Classes Team" until he was recently removed. http://www.wealthclasses.com/ Appears to be kind of a Ayn Rand + Bernie Madoff + Donald Trump kind of thing. Some desperate people will do anything for their (slim) chance at being one of the 1% - count me out...
Danville Resident February 15, 2013 at 08:07 pm
http://icms.cc-courts.org/tellme/tellme/topics.asp?language=ENGLISH&courtcode=A&casetype=CIV&casenumber=MSL12-05711
If you wish to follow along....
anon February 15, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Berding & weidel used to do hoa litigation i.e. foreclosures on behalf of hoa mainly for failure to pay hoa dues. This is a civil suit. is the family still in the property on still creek?
KAC February 15, 2013 at 11:16 pm
It appears to be both civil and criminal...
anon February 15, 2013 at 11:30 pm
i am very familiar with this site, they do not list criminal cases. I am wondering if he is also fighting hoa dues.
KAC February 15, 2013 at 11:41 pm
"anon", I would say you're correct...I should have clarified that I think these are 2 completely separate cases, i.e. one civil, one criminal.
Danville Resident February 15, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Anyone able to secure the Criminal Case # so we can follow along ?
Danville Resident February 15, 2013 at 11:55 pm
Wassell has been charged with five felony counts including Conspiracy, Forgery, Burglary, Non-Sufficient Funds Checks, and Filing False Documents. He faces a maximum sentence of 5 years, 8 months. His bail is presently set at $100,000.
District Attorney Mark A. Peterson stated “that this office will prosecute anyone who deceives victims and businesses of their hard earned money in any real estate fraud scheme. We will not tolerate swindlers nor financial predators in our community.” Darren Wassell is being prosecuted by the Real Estate Fraud Unit of Contra Costa County by Deputy District Attorney Ken W. McCormick. Further questions can be referred to Mr. McCormick at 925-957-8785
anon February 15, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Yes, and if you look further, in 2012 he had 3 other civil cases....all REal property related.
Most counties in ca let you look up criminal and traffic cases on their web site. However, i do not think coco county does. Too bad...would love to see the outcome of this one.
anon February 16, 2013 at 12:17 am
@chris r and purple sea do. There is nothing legal about the way Darren was trying to circumvent the law regarding his mortgage. He illegally tried to make his mortgage (debit) go away. Do you have a mortgage or rent? Do you pay your obligations? What if you were holding the note and he pulled this on you? How would you feel? BTW...that is how most investigations work, they dont want the person they are investigating to know until the police come to arrest them. These wralth seminars make their money by charging people who sign up for them. Bottom line....you eant to be a RE investor, you need to have cash or credit (good). Your not doing it on OPM.
anon February 16, 2013 at 12:22 am
*wealth
anon February 16, 2013 at 12:22 am
*wealth
KAC February 16, 2013 at 01:23 am
This clearly is not a simple case of gee, I can't pay my mortgage, now what? You can tell that by reviewing the docs, the charges, and the strong language from the DA. He will have his day in court, and yes, he's innocent until proven guilty, but it doesn't look good for him. We'll see if he pleads and can stay out of prison.
I suspect the DA's office has already had a chat with Mr. Ravin - testify and stay out of prison - friendship doesn't go far under those circumstances. Just ask the Mafia.
Pleasanton Mom February 18, 2013 at 04:44 pm
Having a nice wife and family doesn't grant you immunity or give you the ability to commit fraud. Struggling financially, like most Americans, also doesn't give you the right to steal, falsify documents and purposely write rubber checks. Sounds like he had been trying to live way beyond his means for too long. Living in. One million dollar plus home hardly suggests struggling. When the market crashed and hurt so many in the industry, most reacted and downsized to try to live within their reduced incomes. Then you have idiots like this, and a few others I know of, that refused to react appropriately to the changing market and reduced incomes who then turned to fraud to support a lifestyle he clearly no longer could. Sorry, not sympathy here. I do hope the fully prosecute him to teach him a lesson and also as a deterant to others who think they are above the law and shouldn't have to live within their means
If his wife is so wonderful, and if she isn't ultimately charged as well because she must have known, she will wait for him while he serves his time. And she will hopefully get a real job and support her own family within her means and not turn to the government.
Lisa Elissiry February 20, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Obviouly you don't understand that when YOU sign papers that say you are going to owe money and need to pay back a loan, YOU obligated yourself to a payment. This is NOT slavery you idiot!!!. He and his family once lived in my neighborhood and had a really nice house that was about $650,00. They were not happy with what they could afford. Some people need to live beyond their means. I bet you wouldn't back this criminal activity if this was a person of "color". If this guy borrowed the money from you to buy his house, I bet you'd want him to pay you back. Same idea with the bank. Get a brain!!!
Lisa Elissiry February 20, 2013 at 02:35 pm
The only people I feel sorry for are his kids. They will suffer for their parents selfish, stupid and disceptive actions. Darrren was trying to pull the wool over the bank's eyes and now he has seriouly hurt his own kids. What the hell was he smoking!!
Randy Post March 12, 2013 at 06:54 am
Judging by how many Government Paid SHILLS AND TROLLS are commenting on this article with fear porn and false information, I'd say this is a story that deserves our full attention! Way too many people are now aware of the fraudulent banking activities, especially with regard to "loans", "mortgage lending", MERS, fractional reserve, derivatives.. the list goes on and on. People are becoming increasingly aware that the bank LOANS NOTHING and that the original Mortgage Note cannot be produced because it was bundled and sold on the stock market.
Time for people to wake up. Research this mans story. Understand that the amount of TROLLS commenting on this article means that there are details to this case that *THEY* do not want the public to learn about. Dear Trolls: The money you make to post your lies in an attempt to protect the oppressors = a sell out to humanity. KARMA should cause YOU to sleep with one eye open. It will catch up to you.
Danville Resident March 12, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Randy its sad your resort to call the honest tax paying people of Danville Trolls and defend the perp.....
Karma my friend caught up with this dishonest guy who cant live by society's rules and accepted behavior...you really need to draw the line in the sand on some issue and take your tin foil hat off and stop living in your fantasy world.... it works well for the other 99.9999 % of us who do.
Mr. Hawaii May 8, 2013 at 08:14 pm
I must say people. This is exactly what the bankers like wells fargo, bank of america, jp morgan and others are doing to people all over the nation. However do you see any of them going to jail. No all you see is a simple slap on the wrist and fines. court system is beyond corrupt. Its all bullshi$. Most of you people that are spouting off in here have absolutely no idea what is really happening around you. You all would just rather go to work, come home and watch tv on the couch then to even rock the boat. To bad for you soon you will not be able to even do those things. Enjoy the last of your so called freedom.
Danville Resident May 8, 2013 at 08:26 pm
You sound a little wacked there Mr Hawaii, your preaching what he did was not so bad and should not be punished becuase the world is coming to an end soon and well be under some other contol..... put down the crack pipe.....and get with it...whata are you going to spout next the south will rise again..
He did the crime and now will do the time.... thats been the rule from the begining of time.....
KAC May 8, 2013 at 08:57 pm
Mr. Hawaii,
Didn't your mom ever tell you, "two wrongs don't make a right"...

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Alex Gronke (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 03:40 pm
David et al: Here's what the FAA said: "Radar replays show an F18 flew right over DanvilleRead More northeast-bound at 3,500 feet at exactly 10:45, and then started to climb, which would create more noise as the pilot applied more engine power."
kcburroughs June 18, 2013 at 03:49 pm
I live pretty close to Mount Diablo and two (they looked military) planes came up over the mountainRead More and then almost flippin hit our house. It threw me out of bed.
David Lehman June 18, 2013 at 07:33 pm
Alex thank you for an answer. I can't think of a reason for them to be here that late at night,Read More even when they do night flight ops they do it much earlier. Again thank you
zenmom June 14, 2013 at 12:27 pm
yes we are at Greenbrook & Morninghome & we heard it too--very loud & booming. Woke usRead More up.
Jim June 14, 2013 at 01:27 pm
Ok.... Glad it was not just us. I should have called DPD but we did not til this morning and theyRead More did not get any calls about it. Wonder what it was?