David Crisp and Carl Cole plan to fight fraud charges by the state that could see them stripped of their real estate licenses.
A notice of defense filed with the Department of Real Estate indicates Tower Lending and Robinson Nguyen also plan to fight the accusations. Tower Lending was the lending arm of Crisp & Cole Real Estate, and Nguyen a former agent.
A man who answered Crisp's cell phone this afternoon declined to identify himself, but said Crisp would not discuss the case.
When asked if Crisp would sit down for an on-camera interview, the man said Crisp just wishes that 'people will get tired of hearing about this story.'
In September, the Department of Real Estate filed a 25-page accusation against Crisp, Cole and a number of their associates. The claim accuses the pair of dishonest dealing and misrepresentation of facts in a house flipping scheme involving millions of dollars.
Crisp, Cole & associates are represented by Daniel Nassie, an attorney based in Irvine
A woman who answered the phone at Doss Law said Nassie would be on vacation for three weeks. According to its Web site (Http://dosslaw.com/ca-11.aspx), the law firm specializes in real estate and business matters.
Department of Real Estate spokesman Tom Pool says a hearing could be set within the next few months.
Meantime, Crisp has moved out of his office space in the Town and Country shopping center on Stockdale Highway. Remax Magic agent Debbie Banducci says she has taken over the lease and most likely will sell foreclosure properties from that office.
The Crisp Real Estate signs had already been taken down Wednesday, and workers from Remax worked on getting the space ready.
The Bakersfield Department of Real Estate confirms Crisp now lists his office in a warehouse-like building at 8929 Rosedale Highway, across from the Northwest Promenade. The man who answered Crisp's cell phone confirmed this.
Crisp has also moved out of his multi-million dollar Seven Oaks mansion. Neighbors say they saw Crisp and family moving out boxes over the last two weeks. One neighbor said Crisp was last seen Sunday in front of the yellow home with white trim loading furniture into a moving truck.
The office of Crisp's former partner Carl Cole have also been shuttered.
The signs for Points West Realty have been stripped from the door of the office in a strip mall on Gosford Road and White Lane The office is being used by a dental practice.
A department spokeswoman confirmed Cole is still selling real estate in Bakersfield, but said he does not have an office listed.
