DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES INDICTMENTS FOR REAL PROPERTY SCAM

News Release 2025-94 from Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General,  November 13, 2025 

HONOLULU – An Oʻahu grand jury has indicted Eldon Simer, 41, and Guy Villanueva, 30, for crimes related to a scheme to steal residential properties by forging and recording fake deeds. Simer and Villanueva then sold or attempted to sell their fraudulent interest in those residential properties to unsuspecting purchasers.

Attorney General Anne Lopez stated, “As alleged, Simer and Villanueva targeted innocent homeowners on Oʻahu by forging real property deeds and then exploited the state of Hawai‘i Bureau of Conveyances by recording the forged deeds. These men stole the rightful owners’ property interests and defrauded purchasers. The Department of the Attorney General seeks to protect homeowners and hold Simer and Villanueva responsible for their egregious criminal activity.”

The investigation was conducted by the Department of the Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division (SIPD). SIPD is the state of Hawaiʻi’s primary law enforcement unit responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption, fraud and economic crimes. The Honolulu Police Department located and arrested Simer and Villanueva. They are currently being held without bail at Oʻahu Community Correctional Center.

Simer is charged with five counts of Computer Fraud in the First Degree, one count of Theft in the First Degree, six counts of Attempted Theft in the First Degree, one count of Insurance Fraud, and two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree. Villanueva is charged with one count of Computer Fraud in the First Degree and one count of Attempted Theft in the First Degree. 

Computer Fraud in the First Degree is a class A felony offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Theft in the First Degree, Attempted Theft in the First Degree, and Insurance Fraud are class B felony offenses punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Forgery in the Second Degree is a class C felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

The charges are only allegations; Simer and Villanueva are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case, State v. Eldon Simer and Guy Villanueva, 1CPC-25-0001326, is being prosecuted by SIPD Deputy Attorney General Benajmin Rose. Arraignment is scheduled for November 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. 

The public can report corruption, fraud, and economic crime using the Submit a Tip to SIPD website, located at https://ag.hawaii.gov/sipd/tips/. If there is an emergency or immediately threat to life, please call 911.

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KITV: Jury indicts 2 men accused of property scam targeting Oahu homeowners | Crime & Courts | kitv.com

Fascinating Pieces of Information:

1) S&E Drywall owned by Eldon Simer filed with DCCA March 11, 2020 -- not in good standing, bounced registration check, 2024.

2) S&E Drywall bad Yelp reviews.

3) Eldon Simer scores COVID PPP loan $20,832.50 on 2021-05-29 with help from CNHA. 

4) How does the AG “Defend Hawaii”?  State Judiciary does not head COVID loan fraud cases.

5) GuyVillanuevaLLC formed Sep 15, 2022 -- not in good standing