A 64-year-old Long Beach man pleaded not guilty Friday to a home theft scheme in Orange County that resulted in about $2 million in losses, according to court records.
Andrew Stephan Hutchings was charged Wednesday with 35 felonies, including conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft, attempted grand theft, forgery and possession of a forged driver’s license with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime exceeding $500,000.
He was ordered to return to court Feb. 28 for a pretrial hearing in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Co-defendant Raymond Jirak, 66, of Long Beach, was wanted on a warrant.
According to the criminal complaint, in October 2020, Hutchings was accused of impersonating a homeowner to sell a home at 1634 W. Orangewood in Anaheim. The two were accused of forging the victim’s signature on a purchase agreement to sell the residence, the complaint alleged.
The two were accused of placing orders for gold eagle coins from various vendors.
The same alleged conspiracy was attempted for a home at 20072 E. Frank Ave. in Orange, according to the complaint.
Three homes were allegedly stolen in the scheme, according to the complaint. The home at 2843 W. Orange Ave. in Anaheim was estimated to be worth $415,000; a home at 1634 W. Orangewood in Anaheim was valued at $600,000; and a home at 20072 E. Frank Lane in Orange was valued at $325,000; and a home at 11742 Della Ave. at Garden Grove was valued at $700,000, according to the complaint.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to messages for details.