Trial set for accused mastermind, others in HOA scheme

A March 2014 trial has been set for Leon Benzer and 10 others in what authorities allege was a scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations.

Benzer, 46, a former construction company boss, is accused of masterminding the scheme between 2003 and 2009. U.S. District Judge James Mahan will preside over the March 3 trial.

Trial has been delayed to allow time to deal with the massive amount of evidence, which includes several million pages of electronic documents, and more than 750,000 paper documents seized in a 2008 FBI raid.

In all, 40 conspirators have been charged since the summer of 2011, and 29 have pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors have alleged that Benzer, with the help of the late construction defects lawyer Nancy Quon, swindled 11 HOAs out of millions of dollars.

The two allegedly funneled more than $8 million through secret bank accounts to help secure legal and construction contracts from the HOA.

Quon, 51, committed suicide in 2012. Benzer was last reported to be working as a cab driver.