Posted by Rich-CA on February 23, 2008 at 08:54:37:
…the show had a couple of different featured flippers. Richard Davies was pretty good, but too much side drama. Armando was like a snake oil salesman.
Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by Richard Davis
Posted by Richard Davis on February 22, 2008 at 09:43:27:
Rofflecopters
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/22/0222montelongo.html
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by lukeNC
Posted by lukeNC on February 24, 2008 at 10:54:26:
i’m thinking…indicted!!! woah…I knew there was some type of fraud going on there.
For appraisal fees?
Gimme a break…
More On Armando Montelongo - Posted by Jimmy
Posted by Jimmy on February 24, 2008 at 06:07:32:
I sent an email to the reporter on this story. owing $4000 to a vendor sounds like a civil matter, and a small claims one at that. I was curious how a small debt could get this guy indicted.
the DA is taking the position that this guy INTENDED to stiff the appraiser when he contracted for the services. otherwise, this is mothing more than a debt. and debts do not get people put in jail. proving intent will be difficult. Armando will assert that his inability to pay was a result of business reverals and losses. the DA will have the burden to prove his state of mind when the services were contracted.
this may be an example of “bad facts make bad law.” if Armando pi$$ed off enough people with his activities, then the DA was looking for something, anything—to go after him for. why else would the Travis County DA waste thousands and thousands of dollars in time and resources on a $4000 debt???
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by Ken-Orlando
Posted by Ken-Orlando on February 24, 2008 at 05:44:46:
I am really surprised that of all places that in Texas you can put someone in jail for not paying a bill for Realestate services.
Both Texas and Florida are the biggest deadbeat States in the Country protecting Homeowners with Homestead Exceptions. Deadbeats move to these States to avoid losing the homes they own and live in , when they have alot of debt.
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by vacationlover
Posted by vacationlover on February 22, 2008 at 21:01:51:
OK. Maybe he’s a schmuck… Then again, Maybe not. He hasn’t or doesn’t have the ability to defend himself on this forum. The truth is, in this business, $4125 is not a lot of money. Why would the appraiser come after him for that amount? There’s something underneath that is not apparent. In my area, appraisals run ~ $350/property SFH. Usually, these types of disputes are either a spitting contest or the appraiser is launching a pre-emptive strike to get their money because of an indication of a bigger underlying problem for Armando.
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by Potash
Posted by Potash on February 22, 2008 at 19:25:17:
This is comparable to convicting Al Capone on tax evasion.
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by William Bronchick
Posted by William Bronchick on February 22, 2008 at 15:34:51:
That makes two people on the show a crook:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/01/entertainment/e125327D35.DTL
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by James (Ala)
Posted by James (Ala) on February 22, 2008 at 12:30:00:
Sounds like breach of contract to me, which is a civil matter. I thought theft of services was tapping into cable illegally.
I guess he should be glad that he is only looking at 2 years since he is in Texas, the Capitol of Capital Punishment.
James (Ala)
Re: Flip This House Armando Montelongo Indicted - Posted by James Harris
Posted by James Harris on February 22, 2008 at 11:26:46:
Is this the same Richard Davis of Trademark Properties?
Thanks, because … - Posted by Redline
Posted by Redline on February 27, 2008 at 01:23:02:
I was wondering the same thing… how a civil case gets to be criminal. I’ve got people who owe me money … I’d LOVE to be able to get them indicted!
All this for $4k. What a joke.
RL
Bad facts Making Bad Law, Part II - Posted by Jimmy
Posted by Jimmy on February 25, 2008 at 05:00:55:
here’s another example of a criminal indictment (and conviction) resulting from stuff that should never be prosecuted, but for other facts in the case.
Moral: if a DA really, really, really wants a piece of your hide, there are lots of ways to get it.
CA lawyer buddy of mine was convicted and jailed for tax evasion. his crime: he, as one of several officers of company, failed to file state corporate tax forms a couple of years, and also failed to pay the minimum $800 annual tax. (the company had no taxable activity in the years in question, so all they owed was the min.).
on its face, you must ask yourself: You’ve got to be kidding? right? this happens all the time. an inactive company is allowed to “go away” by inaction. after a year or so, the company is suspended, and then it disappears.
not this time.
it was not the Franchise Tax Board going after this guy. it was a local DA. they can prosecute tax stuff, too. rare, but permissible. this case involved a bogus charity that raised a lot of money for cops, and then used the money for lavish lifestyle stuff of the founders (not my client). my buddy was not a major player in the scam, but was involved in the early years. oh yeah, one more thing: the real culprit in this case was also a convicted child molestor. the DA could not get any of the fraud/money laundering stuff to stick to my buddy. the only thing they could come up with was the tax evasion deal.
and a jury bought it. so for $1600 in back taxes, he got 3 years in the can.
bad facts make bad law…
Re: More On Armando Montelongo - Posted by Eric in FL
Posted by Eric in FL on February 24, 2008 at 06:53:12:
Seems eerily like Mike Nifong part 2. Let’s get that jerk on TV and I will get the news to come out and do an interview on me. I think Nifong is worth the cup of coffee I am drinking now after being disbarred and going through bankruptcy. I don’t think I would tick off Armando.
Best Regards,
Eric
yea they’re gibing flipping a bad name nt - Posted by Dan
Posted by Dan on February 22, 2008 at 20:37:17:
nt