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Tag: Manhattan Beach

  • SoCal man once stole a billionaire’s identity, then he set his sights on surfers, prosecutors say

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    A convicted bank robber — who also once stole the identity of one of the world’s richest men in order to pocket his $1.4-million tax refund — now awaits sentencing for a different kind of fraud scheme, one that targeted Southern California surfers.

    Moundir Kamil, 56, was the mastermind behind a nearly $1-million scheme that targeted surfers while they were catching waves, according to federal prosecutors.

    Orange County resident Kamil, along with accomplices Jordan Adams and Jennifer Pruneda, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, attempted bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sentencing for Kamil is expected to take place Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles.

    According to court documents and media reports, Kamil and his co-conspirators burglarized vehicles to steal credit cards, debit cards, phones and other forms of identification to later make fraudulent purchases, including luxury items and expensive electronics, totaling at least $850,000.

    The larceny took place across various Southern California beaches including Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Manhattan Beach, as well as beaches in San Diego County and other popular surfing spots, from April 2021 through December 2022.

    In one case reported by a Newport Beach surfer, he discovered that someone had taken his keys from his beachside apartment and used them to steal his wallet and phone from his car while he surfed. The thief was later identified and alleged to be part of an organized crime ring led by Kamil.

    The scheme also involved lookouts who would watch where surfers would stash their keys before they hit the waves; then a partner in crime would grab the key and break into the car, taking phones and wallets. Kamil was able to hack facial recognition software on phones to get into the victims’ apps, prosecutors said. The thieves would then empty out bank and other accounts.

    When credit card companies would call to check on fraudulent activity, the thieves would answer the phone and approve the charges, documents show.

    Kamil is no stranger to money schemes.

    In 2011, he pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud for stealing a nearly $1.4-million tax refund check from billionaire Donald Bren, a real estate mogul and Irvine Co. chairman.

    A federal judge ordered Kamil to pay $1.1 million in restitution. He was also sentenced to 99 days in jail and three years’ probation, which included seeking mental health treatments for a gambling addiction.

    Back in 2003, he was convicted of robbing six banks across Orange County, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and dubbed the “Give Me More Bandit,” due to his demands for extra cash from tellers.

    City News Service contributed to this report.

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    Andrea Flores

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  • LA’s Luxury Home Market Enters August with Quiet Week

    LA’s Luxury Home Market Enters August with Quiet Week

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    Manhattan Beach’s residential market is standing tall even as the number of signed contracts for Los Angeles County shrinks.  

    The nine-bed, 11-bath home at 763 31st Street in Manhattan Beach was last week’s largest property under contract, with an asking price of $10.5 million, according to the Eklund Weekly Luxury Report L.A. The roundup counts signed contracts of residential listings within the county priced above $4 million.

    The Spanish Colonial home on 31st Street totals 7,308 square feet with glass walls, cathedral ceilings, space for a home theater and a pool with waterfalls.

    Property records show the seller is a family trust tied to Gregory Hartmann and Dana Hartmann.

    Claire Gillespie and Margaret Gillespie with Vista Sotheby’s International Realty have the listing.

    Manhattan Beach notches another victory with the contract.

    Two weeks ago, a home in the city’s Hill Section neighborhood was the top contract in Eklund Gomes’ report, with a $16.9 million ask for the property at 934 1st Street. The city also saw its priciest home sale ever last month when 1800 The Strand traded for $24.5 million.

    Elsewhere in L.A. County, a Hancock Park home with a listing price of $9.4 million was last week’s second-largest property under contract.

    The home at 434 South Rimpau Boulevard has served as a well-known local attraction during Halloween, when homeowner Richard Correll decks the property out with items he’s collected from various film sets over the years. Correll is a director, actor, writer and producer who co-created “Hannah Montana.” He has also directed episodes of “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” “Family Matters,” “That’s So Raven” and “Fuller House” among other television shows.

    The Colonial Revival is listed by Coldwell Banker Realty’s Anne Loveland and Sue Carr. It hit the market less than a month ago, according to Zillow.

    The property has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms across 9,113 square feet. Highlights include a second-floor atrium, guest house and backyard with a trampoline and zipline.

    Overall, Los Angeles County counted 13 contracts for the week ended Aug. 4, which is off from the 16 signed in the prior seven-day period, according to the Eklund report. Last week’s contracts equated to total volume of $81.5 million, which compares with $136.6 million in the prior week.

    Meanwhile, demand for luxury condos remained thin as the segment saw its third straight week of no signed contracts.

    Read more

    Manhattan Beach home tops LA County’s residential contracts list


    Mansion on The Strand Marks Manhattan Beach’s Priciest Trade at $24.5M

    Manhattan Beach property breaks city record again with $24.5M trade


    The Agency’s Rainy Hake Austin Talks LA Residential Market

    The Agency’s Rainy Hake Austin talks trends in LA luxury market


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    Kari Hamanaka

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  • Woman, 31, found dead on the sand in Manhattan Beach

    Woman, 31, found dead on the sand in Manhattan Beach

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    A lifeguard found the body of a woman on the sand in Manhattan Beach on Friday morning, three hours after her boyfriend reported her missing.

    The woman was identified by the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office as Jennifer Hanie, 31, according to City News Service. The cause of death has not been determined.

    Manhattan Beach police said the woman’s boyfriend and friends searched for Hanie before reporting her missing early Friday morning. “The reporting party stated he last saw his girlfriend near the water line,” the police said.

    County lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard helped search for the woman on the beach and in the water.

    Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information should call Manhattan Beach Police Detective Sgt. Taylor Klosowski at (310) 802-5123.

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    Melody Petersen

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  • Manhattan Beach Estate With Celebrity Pedigree—Think ‘Modern Family’ And Shaq—Sells For $10.5 Million

    Manhattan Beach Estate With Celebrity Pedigree—Think ‘Modern Family’ And Shaq—Sells For $10.5 Million

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    A Manhattan Beach, California, estate once home to a Hollywood writer-producer as well as two popular sports figures recently sold for $10.5 million. The five-bedroom estate is located in the Hill District of the Southern California coastal city, a small enclave known for its large lots and prestigious houses.

    The home with French Country flair at 501 John Street was sold in May by photographer Annette Lombardi and Danny Zuker, the Emmy Award-winning writer and executive producer of the popular TV sitcom “Modern Family.” The series ran 249 episodes before it ended in 2020.

    The house was previously owned by Major League Baseball player Ken Brett, the older brother of Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett. The one-time youngest pitcher in World Series history who died in 2003 raised his family here. In the mid-1990s, it was dubbed the “Shaq House” when Shaquille O’Neal rented it during his early days with the Los Angeles Lakers.

    The 5,725-square foot residence on three levels was remodeled a decade ago by Andrea and Jeff Browning of Model Design Inc. in San Pedro. The oak and stone flooring as well as bespoke cabinetry throughout lend the home a timeless, contemporary feel.

    The main level features a kitchen and dining area where French doors open out to a backyard pool and spa, barbecue, fire pit and pool house.

    The primary bedroom on the upper floor delivers views of the ocean as well as the nearby hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It features an en-suite bathroom with a soaking tub, steam shower, stone fireplace and loft area. Four additional bedrooms plus a library are located on the upper level.

    The lower level basement, which could be used as a media or family room, covers more than 500 square feet.

    The home is located on a corner lot with a wraparound driveway in the affluent Hill Section, which is bordered by Pacific Coast Highway to the east, Ardmore Avenue to the West, Manhattan Beach Boulevard to the north and the city of Hermosa Beach to the south. Houses here boast large lots and, as the name suggests, are located on a hilltop. Although the neighborhood dates to the 1950s, many houses were torn down to make way for modern residences.

    Kris Lastition of Strand Hill Properties handled the all-cash sale that closed in 14 days.

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    Mary Forgione, Contributor

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  • $18.25 Million Manhattan Beach Contemporary Offers A Front Row Seat On The Sand

    $18.25 Million Manhattan Beach Contemporary Offers A Front Row Seat On The Sand

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    Life on The Strand in Manhattan Beach serves up the idyllic Southern California beach scene. Gray whales plow through the water on their twice-yearly migration, bottlenose dolphins play in the waves and passersby gather to watch the orange sun dip into the horizon.

    A pedestrian and bike path and a swath of sand are all that separate the sought-after oceanfront homes in the neighborhood from the water. Offering a front-row seat is a three-level contemporary now for sale at US $18.25 million.

    Located a three-block walk from the shops, restaurants and nightlife of the beach city’s lively downtown, the 4,517-square-foot home sits more than 20 feet above the beach and bikeway ensuring privacy and whitewater views from every floor.

    The ocean-facing façade combines stone pillars, Honduran mahogany doors and windows and walls of glass.

    Teak hardwood floors unite the main living spaces on the home’s midlevel or garage level. A great room with 11-foot ceilings, dining area and kitchen occupy the floor and open to a full-width covered deck.

    The center island kitchen is outfitted with limestone countertops, tile backsplashes and Sub-Zero, Viking and Bosch appliances.

    The upstairs primary suite takes in views of the Manhattan Beach pier. An indoor-outdoor shower, steam bath, dual walk-in closets, built-in cabinetry, fireplace and seating area make up the suite. Another three bedrooms and a laundry room are on the upper floor.

    The lower level is devoted to entertaining and recreation. The home theater is outfitted with a 100-inch projection screen. An exercise room opens to a courtyard with a six-person in-ground spa. A second laundry area makes a convenient stop to drop towels on the way in from surfing. An office and a beach room that opens to a covered patio face the sand.

    There are five fireplaces, a three-stop elevator and a total of four bathrooms. A storage room sits above the three-car garage.

    Dennis Moloney of Strand Hill Properties is the listing agent for 1408 The Strand in Manhattan Beach.

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    Strand Hill Properties is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.

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    Lauren Beale, Contributor

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  • $22 Million Manhattan Beach Home Takes In California Coast Views

    $22 Million Manhattan Beach Home Takes In California Coast Views

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    Southern California’s Manhattan Beach is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own advantages and bragging rights. There’s the Tree Section, the Sand Section, the shop-filled downtown and the ocean-facing Strand.

    This custom-built home is in an affluent pocket called the Hill Section, known for grand homes and grander views. While residents in some parts of the sought-after beach city live pretty much cheek-to-jowl, the Hill offers elbow room with wide streets, larger lots and more space.

    The houses have vistas that capture the coastline, Santa Catalina Island or downtown Los Angeles. It’s a short walk down to the beach, the pier or a nearby green belt with a tree-lined path.

    The trilevel residence sits on an oversized lot at the T of a street and takes in a stretch of ocean from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Malibu. To make the most of the views, the main living spaces are at the top of the house.

    The façade of the French-influenced home incorporates stone, arched windows and wrought-iron balconies. Inside, elegant details utilize imported materials and fine finishes.

    The uppermost floor offers grand-scale living spaces, including the formal living room and upper family room, both with two fireplaces, ocean-facing decks, an office/bedroom and dining room. The fully outfitted kitchen contains an eat-at center island, breakfast area and butler’s pantry.

    French doors open to a covered lanai overlooking the backyard pool area, which comes with a fireplace, television and built-in barbecue.

    The formal entry accesses the middle level and a dramatic sweeping staircase. The four bedrooms on this floor include the primary suite with an adjoining sitting room, two fireplaces, separate walk-in closet and private outdoor terrace. A laundry room, computer alcove and family room off the pool deck complete the level.

    The lowest portion of the nearly 8,400 square feet of living space is made up of a billiard room, wine cellar with a tasting room, home theater and guest bedroom. There are a total of five bedrooms, two full bathrooms, four three-quarter bathrooms and two powder rooms.

    Equipped with an automated vehicle turntable, the garage can accommodate up to eight cars.

    Kristi Frey of Strand Hill Properties is the listing agent for 500 North Poinsettia Avenue in Manhattan Beach. The asking price is US $22 million.

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    Strand Hill Properties is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties, a consumer marketplace and membership network of elite brokerages selling the world’s most luxurious homes.

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    Lauren Beale, Contributor

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