True Crime in Real Estate™

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  Ep 1: Booked, Paid, Nowhere to Stay (Short Term Rental Scams) 27.09.2026 15min

  True Crime in Real Estate™ is reported journalism. Every name, charge, and figure is sourced from federal court filings, public records, law enforcement statements, and verified reporting. Pending cases are treated as allegations and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nothing here is legal advice.Shray Goel, 35 time of indictment, listed addresses Miami, Calabasas, & Milwaukee. Initially charged December 13, 2023, on a separate indictment. Shaunik Raheja, 34 at time of indictment, listed address in Denver. Added in the first superseding indictment, January 3, 2024.Abbot Pacific LLC and multiple other host names and LLCs.Charges in the superseding indictment: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud. Goel additionally charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft. Wire fraud and conspiracy each carry a statutory maximum of 20 years federal.Goel pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Raheja pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted lying to federal agents during the 2023 investigation. Sentencing scheduled for late summer 2026.October 2017 through November 2019. Banned from Vrbo in 2015 prior to that for repeated cancellations and guest complaints, continued under fake host names.Nearly 100 properties across 10 states. Approximately 10,000 reservations. Approximately $8.5 million in revenue, with about $7 million from Airbnb and about $1.5 million from Vrbo. Plea agreement stipulates a $1.5 million loss figure tied to the wire fraud count.United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles. Prosecuting office: United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California. Investigating agencies: FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Assisting: FDIC Office of Inspector General and Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General.Defense counsel of record at indictment: Michael G. Freedman, representing Shray Goel. Keri Curtis Axel, representing Shaunik Raheja.Reporting:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pair-indicted-alleged-airbnb-vrbo-rental-property-scam-netted-85-milli-rcna132367 Pair indicted in alleged Airbnb, Vrbo rental property scam that netted $8.5 million, January 4, 2024.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airbnb-vrbo-scam-linked-to-10000-reservations-across-10-states-shray-goel-shaunik-raheja/ 2 indicted in $8.5 million Airbnb, Vrbo scam linked to 10,000 reservations across 10 states.https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-man-indicted-in-8-5m-short-term-rental-scam-with-thousands-of-victims-prosecutors/3197717/ South Florida, Miami man indicted in $8.5M short-term rental scam with thousands of victims.https://therealdeal.com/national/2024/01/07/two-indicted-in-8-5-million-nationwide-airbnb-vrbo-scam/ Two Indicted in $8.5 Million Nationwide Airbnb, Vrbo Scam, January 7, 2024.https://www.fhfaoig.gov/sites/default/files/Two-Indicted-in-$8.5-Million-Nationwide-Airbnb-Vrbo-Scam.pdf Office of Inspector Generalhttps://www.scribd.com/document/696673099/Airbnb-Scam-Goel-Raheja-SS-INDICTMENT United States v. Goel and Raheja, Central District of California.