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Rental scam not meant to harm, woman says
'We were not trying to take people's money,' Walker adds
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Walker
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More from Conejo ValleyHours after her release on bond from Ventura County Jail on Wednesday, Cristina Walker said she never meant to hurt anyone.
The 33-year-old Reseda woman was booked into jail Tuesday on suspicion of residential burglary, grand theft by false pretenses and filing a false police report after she turned herself in to Thousand Oaks police.
Walker has admitted she fabricated a story last month that included a made-up landlord who defrauded her, according to police. Her plight led to donations of money and food from people.
"I guess I was going to pretend to play house until I got on my feet," Walker said, adding she wanted to be near her school-age son. "I am human. I will pay the consequences. I really do appreciate the people (who helped)."
Walker and her husband were evicted by sheriff's deputies from a Thousand Oaks house she claimed she had leased from a woman and put a $3,000 cash deposit on. The couple were forced to leave after the rightful owner contacted officers.
As police began a search for the woman who allegedly scammed Walker, the homeowner, attorney Tim Quinn, gave Walker and her husband $400 for a motel room. Anonymous donors and churches also stepped up to help pay for their room at Motel 6 and to take them food.
The police investigation revealed Walker had made up the landlord and the story about renting the house on Calle Jazmin. Investigators are trying to locate those who helped Walker.
"They are all victims of grand theft by false pretenses," Thousand Oaks Police Detective Eric Buschow said.
Walker is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Walker said she thought the three-bedroom house near Thousand Oaks High School was a foreclosed home when she moved in some furniture.
"I wanted to be with my son and be from Thousand Oaks, where he wanted to live," she said through tears. "We were not trying to take people's money. Those people gave me hope. They gave me a month with my son."
Dan'l Markham lent Walker and her husband a hand before Walker's arrest. As managing director at Joni and Friends, a Christian organization in Agoura Hills that ministers to the disabled community, he assisted Walker in securing a $2,500 grant to be paid to the landlord for permanent housing.
The money was never dispersed.
He commended those who stepped forward to help the woman, who receives Supplemental Security income for post-traumatic stress disorder. "I would encourage folks to do what our Lord does," he said. "On one hand you want to put in safeguards, like we do. But on the other hand, err on the side of mercy and grace."
Kevin Drescher, supervisor of the major fraud unit in the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, said due diligence is a critical safeguard for people.
"Scam artists come in all shapes, sizes and colors and ages," he said. "Before you give your money or personal property away, you need to do your due diligence and make sure you know who you are giving to. Another thing, if you become a victim to a scam don't be embarrassed, and call the police and report it."
Quinn received a money order from Walker for $500 to cover the cost of the money he lent her and for the locks she had changed, he said.
On Wednesday, Walker said Quinn didn't deserve what had happened to him. She said she would have given the money back to her other benefactors, but the money that went to the motel room was given anonymously. Walker said she was taken aback at the people who came forward to help her.
"I never meant to hurt anyone," she said. "Honestly, I don't feel that anyone is going to believe me, what I say anyway."
Posted by HateMachine on May 1, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am finding it hard to find any sympathy for this woman. Not only did she file a false police report but her scam was very detail oriented, and took a lot of forethought.
She says she thought the home was foreclosed on and that is why she selected it....well foreclosed on or not its still trespassing!
Many of us are faced with tough decisions everyday to do the right thing or not. For me its easy to do the right one because as a parent my policy is that I do NOTHING that would cause me tolose my kids. This woman on so many levels cause what in my mind would be irreparable damage to the relationship she has with her son...did she really think what she did would bring her closer to her son in the long run??
Shame Shame on her, I hope the judge that sentences her takes into consideration the magnitude of the damages she caused not only to the homeowner, but her son and the graciousness of the good people that donated to help her because she scammed them all!
People like her make it hard for all of us to donate to those in need because we dont know if they truly are in need or if they are pulling a fast one and playing on our compassion.
Posted by Star7 on May 1, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can understand her frustration, but to break the law. People like her make it harder for those of us who really need help. I lived in a rental for 10yrs. and a month ago I was told by the bank I had to move with in two weeks. Know warning from my landlord. So now I have to come up with $2,375. to move into another place.Yes I'm in despair, but I won't break the law. She was lucky to find an organiation that would help her. I CAN'T find one in Ventura. I'm off to knock on some doors this morning. Shame on you lady.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 1, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes what she did was wrong. She should be punished as anyother person would be.
Star, I hope you get some sort of help. Is it even legal to get a two week notice? I would look into that. Good luck in finding a home......
Posted by johnjgriffin on May 1, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Star Readers,
This is the price that we, as a society, are going to now pay for the thousands displaced by the greed of Angelo Mozilo. We read about the increased number of foreclosures but fail to understand the personal tragedy and consequence behind the numbers. This is one small example of the lengths that people are reaching for in order to survive. Yes, what Walker has done is wrong, but she is sorry, as is reflected in the story. Has Mazilo ever displayed such remorse?
Posted by Face on May 1, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She should have to return all monies and donated goods and services from all the good folks she duped as well.
Posted by sparks240 on May 1, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She seems like an accomplished liar and scammer. I wonder if her Supplemental Security income for post-traumatic stress disorder is a fabrication also.
Posted by JohnGC on May 2, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously, we need a system of vetting those who require assistance. Scams of this ilk abound. Observation of 'food banks" for instance will reveal rather fancy vehicles being loaded with food; and also reveal that the same vehicles appear at multiple sites. I believe that we should assist those in need. I also believe that we should prosecute those who steal from those in need via their lies.
This gal not only broke into a house, but she then accepted aid($ & food), under the guise of unfortunate, from curches, aid organizations and individuals. This fraud reached the point where an organization was going to pay a $2K+ deposit on housing.
Without the police and investigative efforts of a sharp police department, this leech would still be sucking blood from the truly needy.
Who bailed out this piece of garbage? A casual observation of her pic would lead one to believe that she is in no need of further assistance with groceries.
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