Indian-Origin Businessman Arrested for Alleged Bank Fraud in California
Overview of the Case
An Indian-origin businessman based in California has been taken into custody on federal fraud charges. Authorities allege that Mahender Makhijani, 44, from Corona del Mar, misled a bank into granting nearly $100 million in financing through purportedly forged documents. He faces charges of bank fraud and is set to appear in federal court in Santa Ana. If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. This case was revealed by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles and involves an alleged scheme related to real estate-backed loans and altered title insurance records.
Background on Mahender Makhijani
Who Is Mahender Makhijani?
Investigators report that Makhijani is the head of Cantor Group V LLC, a company located in Newport Beach that received close to $100 million from a bank referred to in court documents as "Bank #1." The funds were meant to assist Cantor in originating or acquiring loans secured by real estate. As part of the agreement, Cantor was obligated to use those loans and the associated properties as collateral for the financing received from the bank. Additionally, court documents indicate that Cantor Group V shares an address with Continuum Analytics, a real estate investment firm that was searched by the FBI in September 2025. Neither Cantor Group V nor Continuum Analytics has been charged in this criminal case.
Allegations Against Makhijani
What Are The Allegations Against Mahender Makhijani?
Federal prosecutors claim that Makhijani misrepresented the value of the collateral pledged to the bank between September 2024 and April 2025. The complaint outlines several allegations against him, including:
- Altering title insurance policies to falsely indicate that Cantor held the primary claim on specific properties.
- Using Adobe software to modify title documents and manipulate metadata.
- Submitting the altered title insurance policies to the bank.
- Providing misleading explanations regarding title-related matters during conversations with bank officials.
- Sending a spreadsheet with allegedly incorrect information to the bank in December 2024.
- Hiding the fact that other lenders had priority claims on some properties used as collateral.
Prosecutors assert that the bank relied on the information provided by Makhijani when deciding to continue financing Cantor. They allege that had the bank been aware of the actual status of the collateral, it would have deemed Cantor in default and sought immediate repayment of nearly $100 million. Authorities noted that the bank has not yet incurred a loss, as it may still recover the funds from guarantors. Federal officials emphasized that the criminal complaint consists of allegations only, and Makhijani is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.