Porter Ranch Co. Among Victims in $1 Million Escrow Scam

A Northridge real estate agent was convicted Wednesday of stealing nearly $1 million over a yearlong period.

The San Fernando Superior Court jury deliberated about 1½ hours before finding Neelam Bhatia, 50, guilty of six counts of grand theft, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The victims included the Porter Ranch Development Co., which lost more than $573,000, and five people who lost more than $408,000 while Bhatia worked for the Click and List real estate agency and escrow company.

The firm was licensed to Leroy Sennette, 81, of Woodland Hills, who pleaded no contest earlier to two counts of grand theft and was sentenced to three years probation.

The company received the funds for real estate purchases, but the money was deposited into general bank accounts in the name of Click and List, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Sennette and eventually Bhatia were the sole signature holders of the bank accounts.

Bhatia is facing a maximum of 13 years and four months in state prison, with sentencing set for Dec. 16.

-- City News Service