PONTIAC, Mich. – A Pontiac woman pleaded no contest to nine charges after allegedly scamming home buyers in a real estate fraud scheme.
Amanda Escalante-Lopez, 28, from Pontiac, allegedly made verbal agreements with prospective home buyers for land contracts and title to homes in Pontiac that she did not own.
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The victims gave her money, and she, in return, was to give the property to them. However, victims reported they did not receive keys, access or titles to the homes after putting down payments on the homes as agreed upon.
Escalante-Lopez was charged in October with three counts of false pretenses $20,000-$50,000, three counts of false pretenses $1,000-$20,000, one count of larceny by conversion $20,000 or more and three counts of larceny by conversion $1,000-$20,000.
According to court documents, Escalante-Lopez pleaded no contest to nine charges on April 16. She…
THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)
Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)
Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.
Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.
Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing