An Orange County man is facing federal bank fraud charges after investigators say he orchestrated one of the largest individual financial frauds recently seen in Southern California.
Mahender Makhijani, 44, of Corona del Mar, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging he defrauded a federally insured bank out of nearly $100 million by falsifying title insurance policies and manipulating lien positions on real estate‑backed loans.
Federal prosecutors say Makhijani controlled Newport Beach‑based Cantor Group V LLC, which had a lending relationship with Bank #1. Under the agreement, the bank advanced nearly $100 million for Cantor to originate or purchase loans secured by real estate. Cantor was required to pledge only loans backed by first‑lien collateral, ensuring the bank would be first in line to foreclose if borrowers defaulted. Instead, investigators allege Makhijani falsified title insurance policies between September 2024 and April 2025 to make it appear Cantor held first‑lien positions when other creditors actually had priority…