California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed charges on June 17 against a Beverly Hills realtor, accusing him of illegally raising rental prices at two properties in the wake of the January wildfires.

The criminal complaint charges defendant Iman Eshaghyan with two misdemeanor counts of price gouging, in violation of an emergency order implemented after the Jan. 7 fires prohibiting rental increases of more than 10%. The addresses of the two properties are redacted in a copy of the criminal complaint provided by the California Attorney General’s Office, but it states both properties are in Beverly Hills. The crimes were committed on Jan. 28 and Jan. 31, according to the criminal complaint. The California Attorney General’s Office said Eshaghyan raised the rental prices by 30% at the properties, which were leased by families who evacuated during the Palisades fire.

“Profiting off Californians’ pain though price gouging is illegal and I will not stand for it,” Bonta said. “I urge current or prospective tenants to share their stories directly with local authorities like the L.A. City Attorney or L.A. [County] District Attorney, or our office by visiting oag.ca.gov/lafires or calling our hotline at (800)952-5225.”

California Penal Code section 396 prohibits people from charging a price more than 10% higher than the price charged before a state or local declaration of emergency. For items a seller only began selling after an emergency declaration, the law prohibits charging a price that exceeds the seller’s cost by more than 50%. The law applies to the sale of food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials and gasoline. The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, hotel accommodations and long- and short-term rental housing, Bonta said.

Eshaghyan is the fourth defendant to be charged by the California Attorney General’s Office for price gouging since the emergency declaration was made after the Jan. 7 wildfires. He faces a potential $10,000 maximum fine and 12 months in jail for each count. Violators are also subject to civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution. Eshaghyan is scheduled to be arraigned on July 28, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.

On Coldwell Banker Realty’s website, Eshaghyan is listed as a realtor in the Beverly Hills office at 301 N. Cañon Drive, Ste. E. Eshaghyan could not be reached for comment.

On June 24, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath, 3rd District, and Kathryn Barger, 5th District, to extend housing price gouging protections through July 31 for residents still displaced by the January wildfires. The extension is authorized under state law, which permits local governments to renew protections every 30 days. In addition to protections against price gouging, the motion prohibits owners from evicting residents and raising rents.

“The fires may have been six months ago, but for too many, recovery is still ongoing – and unfortunately, that’s exactly when bad actors try to strike,” Horvath said. “Price gouging protections are essential to making sure our communities can rebuild without being exploited. In Los Angeles County, we must not stand by while vulnerable residents are taken advantage of. If you suspect price gouging, report it to our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs so we can hold these bad actors accountable.”

To report instances of price gouging to the California Attorney General’s Office, call the hotline at (800)952-5225, or visit oag.ca.gov/lafires.

For information on consumer protections and to report price gouging and unfair evictions to the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, call the department tipline at (800)593-8222, or visit dcba.lacounty.gov.