President of Irvine, California-based wholesale mortgage lender with history of drunk driving convictions arrested on suspicion of murder after 88-year-old man is killed in head-on accident.
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An executive at a wholesale mortgage lender in Orange County, California, with a history of drunk driving convictions could be facing murder charges following a head-on collision Friday that killed an 88-year-old Dana Point man.
Serene Francie Rosenberg — known professionally as Serene Vernon, the president of LoanStream Mortgage — was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with three prior convictions, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release Saturday.
Serene Francie Rosenberg
Rosenberg, 48, was allegedly behind the wheel of a Land Rover SUV that was traveling westbound on Stonehill Drive before turning left against a red arrow signal directly in front of a Ford Transit van, deputies said.
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A passenger in the van, Melvin Joseph Weibel, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the van was taken to a local hospital and treated for “serious but non-life-threatening” injuries, the sheriff’s department said.
Rosenberg was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder and DUI causing injury, deputies said. The accident remains under investigation, and it will be up to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to decide what, if any, charges to file.
Inman was unable to reach Rosenberg or her attorney for comment.
In a statement, OCMBC Inc. (which does business as LoanStream Mortgage), said Rosenberg has been placed on administrative leave, and that John Hamel has assumed the permanent role of company president.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking event and we intend to monitor the situation closely, responding with care and responsibility in accordance with our company’s core values,” OCMBC said in a statement.
Hamel, who was previously OCMBC’s chief capital markets officer, has “deep industry knowledge” and will ensure the company’s “unwavering commitment to clients, partners, and employees remain steadfast,” the company said.
John Hamel
“Our leadership team is well-positioned to navigate this transition effectively and will continue to uphold the integrity and reliability that our clients expect,” Hamel said in a statement.
Based in Irvine, OCMBC is licensed in 49 states (all but New York), and also does business as Brokers Choice Mortgage, Forward Lending, Jet Advantage Mortgage and LendingPros, according to records maintained by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System.
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