A former Langley developer, Mark Chandler, who previously served time in a U.S. prison for wire fraud, failed to appear at a hearing concerning allegations that he sold some condo units in his Murrayville House development to multiple buyers. The hearing proceeded in his absence as the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) continues its investigation into the alleged misconduct.
Mark Chandler, known for developing the 91-unit Murrayville House building in Langley, is accused of selling some of its condominium units to multiple buyers between 2015 and 2017. A report by a court-appointed trustee in 2017 indicated that the 91 units were sold to 149 different buyers. Specifically, 31 units were reportedly sold twice, 12 units three times, and one unit was sold to four separate buyers. Chandler's lawyer at the time had disputed these claims, characterizing the transactions as loans rather than sales.
Chandler was extradited to the United States in 2019 to face charges related to a $1.7 million real estate scheme in Los Angeles, for which he pleaded guilty and served a six-year sentence in a California jail. He returned to Canada in February of this year. The BCFSA had initiated a notice of hearing regarding the alleged multiple sales before his extradition and re-initiated the process upon his return.
Despite being served with a notice of hearing, Chandler did not attend the proceedings that began on September 15, nor did he send legal representation. The BCFSA confirmed that the hearing commenced with a full day of evidence and is now continuing through written submissions. The timeline for a decision on the liability portion of the hearing remains undetermined.
Earlier this year, two other individuals, Vasant Pragjibhai Patel and Chattar Singh Flora, were penalized by the BCFSA for conducting unlicensed real estate activities connected to Murrayville House. Patel was ordered to pay $10,000 for providing unlicensed services, $10,000 in investigation costs, and a company he owns received a $20,000 penalty. Flora was fined $70,000 for similar unlicensed activities. Additionally, two licensed realtors have also been found liable for misconduct related to the project.
Individuals found to have violated British Columbia's Real Estate Development Marketing Act can face significant penalties, including personal fines of up to $1.25 million and potential jail time for a first offense, with subsequent breaches carrying higher penalties.