Steven Hughes

A small Orange County mortgage banking firm, whose owner served a prison term for a 1989 loan fraud conviction, is being accused in a civil suit of defrauding a quasi-federal agency. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. alleges that PFG Mortgage in Mission Viejo defrauded it of $8.5 million in the sale of mortgage notes. The company was renamed Silverado Bancorp earlier this month by owner Robert O. Potter in a move that some in the industry see as a poor judgment call or an odd sense of humor.

A small Orange County mortgage banking firm, whose owner served a prison term for a 1989 loan fraud conviction, is being accused in a civil suit of defrauding a quasi-federal agency. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. alleges that PFG Mortgage in Mission Viejo defrauded it of $8.5 million in the sale of mortgage notes. The company was renamed Silverado Bancorp earlier this month by owner Robert O. Potter in a move that some in the industry see as a poor judgment call or an odd sense of humor.

A27-year-old extra in the NBC television series "Highway to Heaven" remained in critical condition Saturday from injuries he suffered in a traffic accident while on location, authorities said. Mark Palumbo suffered extensive internal and head injuries Friday when the car in which he was a passenger turned left into the path of truck in front of the Agoura Valley Inn on Roadside Drive in Agoura Hills, said Kevin Mauch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Authors John D. Crisafulli, Sean Fisher and Teresa Villa will sign copies of their book, "Backstage Pass: Catering to Music's Biggest Stars," 7:30 p.m. today at Borders Books & Music, 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge. The book offers favorite recipes of favorite musical stars. Meet the authors and taste some samples of their culinary wares. (818) 886-5443.

The Orange County district attorney's office said Friday that it is investigating fraud complaints against the owner of a small Mission Viejo mortgage banking company who already is a defendant in a civil lawsuit accusing him of double-selling home loans. Robert O. Potter, owner of PFG Mortgage in Mission Viejo, is under investigation in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. in the sale of mortgage notes, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Joseph D'Agostino.

Steven Hughes of Ontario has a 40-mile commute, but he never gets frustrated. New Age relaxation tapes? Illegal substances? Nah, a plane-pool. Hughes, 31, is one of dozens of commuters who leave their homes in Redlands or Norco or Lake Elsinore and fly into Hawthorne Municipal Airport every day. For about $50 a week, paid to the owner and pilot of the plane, Hughes and his fellow plane-poolers get a seat on a small, usually single-engine plane.

Three men are expected to surrender to authorities here next week on charges of participating in a multimillion-dollar loan fraud scheme, authorities said Thursday. Mark Steven Knapp, 31, of Pomona, Robert Potter, 51, of Laguna Hills and Steven William Hughes, 34, of Laguna Niguel were named in a criminal complaint issued Thursday by the Ventura County district attorney's office.

Two Orange County businessmen have been charged with felony grand theft and conspiracy in a multimillion-dollar loan fraud scheme involving five financial institutions, Ventura County authorities said. The charges, filed by the Ventura County district attorney's office, allege that Steven William Hughes, 34, of Laguna Niguel and Robert Otto Potter, 51, of Laguna Hills defrauded four S&Ls and a mortgage lender of at least $1.

Pentagon auditors on Thursday acknowledged that the projected $1.7-billion savings for closing the Point Mugu Navy base is outdated and that base-closing commissioners should not rely on their numbers to determine the fate of the facility, according to congressional aides. In a meeting with Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills) and congressional staff, Defense Department auditors said an inspector general's report was based on facts and figures that were compiled at least two years ago.

A businessman who failed to show up to serve a one-year jail term after he was convicted of defrauding Santa Paula Savings & Loan and four other institutions has been arrested in Big Bear, officials said Monday. Steven W. Hughes of Laguna Hills will be brought back to Ventura later this week, where he could face charges for absconding.

Like thousands upon thousands of far-flung Los Angeles-area commuters, Norco resident Don Hanson climbs into the driver's seat every morning, starts his engine and heads out on the long ride into L.A. Unlike other commuters, however, Hanson doesn't have to worry about stop-and-go traffic. In fact, Hanson maintains a constant speed throughout the 62-mile trip--about 140 m.p.h., enough to get him to his destination in 20 minutes. Hanson is not a car-driving commuter.