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28‑year‑old Pontiac resident, Amanda Escalante‑Lopez, was arrested in Oakland County for fraudulently collecting down payments from buyers who believed she owned the properties. She was booked into the Oakland County Jail. Prosecutors say she entered verbal land‑contract agreements for homes she did not possess, promising titles and keys that never materialized. Victims reported no keys or titles. Escalante‑Lopez faces ten felony counts: three for false pretenses ($20,000‑$50,000), three for false pretenses ($1,000‑$20,000), one for larceny by conversion ($20,000+), and three for larceny by conversion ($1,000‑$20,000). A conviction could result in 5 to 15 years behind bars.
