FBI Searching For Kingwood Man Wanted In $16 Million Fraud Scheme

KINGWOOD, TX — The FBI is working with Clear Channel Outdoors on a billboard campaign to catch a fugitive who was convicted in June 2016 for his role in a $16 million fraud scheme.

Clear Channel Outdoors donated advertising spaces, and on Thursday began broadcasting Oscar Cantalicio Ortiz’s photograph on digital billboards all over the Houston area.

On June 30 2016, Ortiz, 53, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank, wire and mail fraud. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Ortiz, whose last known address was in Kingwood, and who also has ties to Argentina and Dominican Republic, was expected in court on April 24 but never showed up.

Authorities later discovered Ortiz’s ankle monitor had been removed and was recovered from the side of the road, the Houston Chronicle reported.

On June 5, Ortiz was sentenced absentia to 21 years in federal prison, while his co-defendant in the scheme, Houston realtor Seung Min Santillan, aka Suzy, 57, was sentenced to 168 months — 14 years — in federal prison and ordered to pay $5.3 million in restitution, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Officials said Ortiz and Santillan operated a mortgage fraud scheme in which they recruited straw borrowers to purchase residential properties in the Houston area.

Loans were obtained from lending institutions to purchase these properties in the names and using the credit of the straw borrowers.

The lenders were provided materially false information to induce them to fund these residential loans, but the loans were funded and ultimately fell into default when Ortiz and Santillan failed to make all the mortgage payments as promised, officials said in their statement.

Meanwhile, a warrant for Ortiz’s arrest charging him with failure to appear has been issued.

Ortiz is described as an Hispanic male, about six feet tall with a medium build.

He was last seen driving a silver 2004 Toyota 4-Runner with the Texas license plate CN5V326, according to the release.

CrimeStoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for Ortiz’s capture.

Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the FBI's Houston office at 713-693-5000.

Image: Shutterstock

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