News in Pictures

In this picture taken on Sept. 9, 2009, Irish journalist Kevin Doyle, 41, the editor-in-chief of the well-known local English newspaper Cambodian Daily, enters the Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the court found two journalists, including Doyle, guilty of defamation for publishing an article in which an opposition leader criticized dozens of high-ranking military officers.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith) CAAI News Media

In this picture taken on Sept. 9, 2009, Irish journalist Kevin Doyle, 41, second right, the editor-in-chief of the well-known local English newspaper Cambodian Daily, enters the Phnom Penh Municipality Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the court found two journalists, including Doyle, guilty of defamation for publishing an article in which an opposition leader criticized dozens of high-ranking military officers.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith) CAAI News Media

Defense Secretary Robert Gates walks out to greet Cambodia's Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh at the Pentagon in Washington, September 21, 2009.REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst. CAAAI News Media

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (R) walks with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Tea Bahn (2nd R) at the Pentagon in Washington September 21, 2009. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst . CAAI News Media

Manteca pair arrested in mortgage fraud scheme

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

PDT Manteca, Calif. (AP) -- The FBI has arrested a Manteca mother and daughter accused of defrauding lenders of about $5 million from home sales.

Prosecutors say 49-year-old Helen Sotiriadis and her daughter, 23-year-old Irene Sotiriadis, sold 30 residential properties to Cambodian nationals between March 2006 and November 2007. But a complaint filed Monday alleges the women inflated the buyers' incomes on loan papers and promised them refinancing would drop their monthly payments.

Prosecutors say the women never did any refinancing and the homes went into foreclosure.

FBI agents arrested the pair Sunday after they got a tip that the Sotiriadises were planning to relocate to Greece.

Attorneys for the woman insist their clients were not trying to flee prosecution.

Posted in: Khmer News