A former Northern California real estate agent was sentenced to 14 years in prison yesterday for using his client’s stolen identities to purchase properties in a $1 million scheme, according to media reports.
John Shaw, 47, of Sunnyvale, last year was found guilty of forgery, grand theft, identity theft, conspiracy, perjury and intimidating a witness, according to an AP report.
Shaw stole at least five people’s identities, purchased real estate in their names and then sold the property to other names he assumed, prosecutors said.
Shaw’s wife, Mary M. Wu, 31, was also convicted of identity theft charges and was sentenced to three years probation, reports said.
Shaw’s associate, Cheng Guo, assaulted a witness to keep the man from testifying against Shaw, authorities said. Guo is currently missing, according to reports.