Woman Pleads to Immigration, Real Estate Services Scam

A woman pleaded no contest today to stealing more than $360,000 from 38 people by falsely offering them immigration and real estate services, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Ryann Gerber Jorban of the Notario Fraud Unit of the Consumer Protection Division said Eblin Balver, 53, of Baldwin Park entered the plea to 14 counts including elder abuse, extortion and grand theft.

Balver was immediately sentenced to seven years in jail and six years under mandatory supervision and ordered to pay $360,448 in restitution under the terms of the plea.

Between 2014 and 2018, the defendant developed relationships with individuals in order to lure them into business arrangements for legal services, the prosecutor said. Balver claimed that she worked for the court system and could provide assistance with immigration petitions and visas and in buying foreclosed homes.

The defendant collected payments from the victims but never provided the promised services. Balver also threatened some of the victims by claiming a mafia connection in order to prevent them from reporting the crimes to the authorities, the prosecutor added.

Case BA470387 was investigated by the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation and Notario Fraud Unit of the Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.

About the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to protecting our community through the fair and ethical pursuit of justice and the safeguarding of crime victims' rights.