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 project to multiple buyers. The hearing proceeded in his absence.
Mark Chandler, known for developing the 91-unit Murrayville House project in Langley, is accused of selling some of its condominium units to more than one buyer between 2015 and 2017. A report by a court-appointed trustee in 2017 indicated that the 91 units were sold to 149 buyers, with 31 units sold twice, 12 sold three times, and one unit sold to four different buyers. Chandler's lawyer at the time had disputed these claims, characterizing the transactions as loans.
Chandler was extradited to the United States in 2019 and served a six-year sentence in a California jail for a $1.7 million real estate scheme. He re-entered Canada in February of this year. Prior to his extradition, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) had initiated a notice of hearing regarding the alleged multiple sales and reported the matter to the RCMP. Although Chandler was not charged in Canada at that time, the BCFSA resumed the process and served him with a new notice of hearing upon his return.
Chandler did not attend his hearing, which began on September 15, nor did he send a representative. The BCFSA confirmed that the hearing proceeded in his absence. A full day of evidence was presented on the first day, and the hearing is continuing through written submissions. The timeline for a decision on the liability portion of the hearing remains uncertain.
Earlier this year, two other individuals, Vasant Pragjibhai Patel and Chattar Singh Flora, faced penalties for conducting unlicensed real estate activities related to the Murrayville House project. Patel was fined $10,000 for providing unlicensed real estate services and $10,000 in investigation costs, with a numbered company he owns also fined $20,000. Flora was ordered to pay a $70,000 penalty for similar unlicensed activities. Additionally, two licensed realtors have also been found liable for misconduct in connection with the project.
Individuals found to have violated British Columbia's Real Estate Development Marketing Act can face significant penalties. These include personal fines of up to $1.25 million and up to two years in prison for a first offense. Subsequent breaches can result in penalties of up to $2.5 million and two years imprisonment.