$2.6 Million Missing From Escrow Firm

SANTA CLARITA — A scandal surrounding the Country Oaks Escrow Co. grew this week when estimates of the amount missing from the firm’s trust fund rose to $2.6 million just as a deal to transfer the troubled agency’s cases was completed.

Originally, authorities believed $2 million was missing from the company’s trust fund. Country Oaks was shut down by state regulators June 4 after the shortfall was noted in a routine audit. High-ranking company officials have said that they were told by the owner, Kathy Wiener, that her husband, Harold Wiener, had used the funds for business operating expenses.

The shutdown left more than 2,000 escrows, mostly residential transactions, in limbo as investigators combed through the firm’s financial files. State officials said the missing money is insured by the Escrow Agents Fidelity Corp., which expects to complete its own audit snortly.

In the meantime, telephones at Country Oaks offices were being answered “Burrow Escrow Co.” after state officials on Wednesday granted new licenses to the firm’s four branch offices that were being taken over by the Santa Ana-based escrow company.