Bail Hearing Tuesday For Orinda Real Estate Fund Manager

The former head of an Orinda real estate investment group has been ordered to appear in Contra Costa County court Tuesday after charges of theft, embezzlement, forgery and filing forged documents were filed in connection with his management of a local real estate investment fund.

Carl B. Miller, a former real estate broker and Troop Leader of Orinda Boy Scout Troop 327, faces nine felony counts for the alleged theft of monies from a $10 million investment fund and, according to the criminal complaint against him, more than $950 in property from the Boy Scout troop he led.

A warrant for his arrest was issued July 1 and bail, pending the results of Tuesday's bail hearing, was set at $416,000.

Charges were filed after the numerous investors with the real estate investment trust Miller managed, Geneva Real Estate Investments of Orinda, complained of missing funds and accused Miller of spending the money on his Orinda mansion, lavish trips and schooling for his own children.

The losses came to light after an investor demanded an audit of Geneva's holdings. One investor described his own loss as "in the millions."

Miller was eventually driven from his management role at Geneva Real Estate Investments, located at 1 Northwood Drive in Orinda, in late 2009, according to investors who wished to remain anonymous.