JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville man accused of faking his own death and stealing millions is now being sued.
Christina Lantigua lives in a quiet Jacksonville Beach home, on a quiet cul de sac, but possibly not for long. According to a suit filed by Florida Capital Bank, the home was bought with nearly $300,000 in illegally obtained money from her father Jose.
According to the lawsuit, the bank claims Jose Lantigua used fake brokerage documents to get a $1.6 million dollar loan, then defaulted when Circle K furniture closed. The bank alleges he used some of that money to buy the home in 2012 and a car.
Shortly after, his family said he died of a heart attack in Venezuela and was cremated. This is a copy of the death certificate but it's not true, it was later found that Lantigua faked his death and is now in a North Carolina jail.
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"Her dad died he bought her that house and now somebody was trying to contest the money and take the money back," Watson said.
Dale Carson is the Action News Jax law and safety expert. He says although Lantigua's father is currently charged with bank and insurance fraud totaling $8 million. Carson said the home might be safe.
"They have to prove it was dirty cash,” Carson said. "In the state of Florida it is very difficult to recover a property that is homesteaded."
Action News Jax reporter Ben Becker looked it up and the property is homesteaded. The lawsuit suit is a civil one, not criminal. Christina is not facing any charges.
Jose Lantigua is due back in court next Monday. Lantigua's wife, who's also facing criminal charges, is still awaiting arraignment in the Duval County jail.