Marin DA probes Tiburon man’s lending firm after $100 million vanishes

The Marin County District Attorney’s Office is investigating Novato-based lender Pacific Private Money, Inc., whose former building is seen here March 4, amid news reports that investors have lost their money after the firm stopped payments to more than 100 customers. Tiburon resident Mark Hanf, who runs Pacific Private, did not return multiple requests for comment. (Francisco Martinez / The Ark)

The Marin District Attorney’s Office is investigating a Tiburon resident’s real-estate lending company following complaints from investors, who have reportedly been told that more than $100 million contributed to the company is gone.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Ken­singer said his office is reviewing consumer complaints about Pacific Private Money, Inc., a Novato-based alternative lending firm run by Mark Hanf of Tiburon. Pacific Private Money stopped payments to its more than 130 investors late last year, and those investors have been told most of the money tied up in the firm is gone, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kensinger, who heads the county’s Consumer Protection Unit, in a March 6 email declined to detail the allegations but encouraged “anyone who feels they have been the victim of consumer fraud” in Marin to report it to the District Attorney’s Office.

Hanf, who was disciplined by the state Bureau of Real Estate in 2014, did not respond to a voicemail or emails to his personal and work accounts seeking comment.

A notice taped to the business’ front door read: “This office is now closed” and directed account holders to contact Bill Brinkman of Jigsaw Advisors LLC. Brinkman did not respond to emails seeking comment. On March 4, the office’s door was locked and no one appeared to be inside, though the lights were on and a back door was ajar.

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