May 2, 2008 12:57 am US/Pacific
Real Estate Fraud Led To San Ramon Man's Murder
SAN RAMON (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
An El Sobrante man was arraigned in court Thursday in connection with the murder of a San Ramon man that prosecutors said appeared to have stemmed from an alleged real estate fraud involving a piece of property in North Richmond.
Reginald Robinson, 31, was arraigned on charges of murder, solicitation of murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting Sunday night of 42-year-old Kashmir Billon.
Although police initially said they believed Robinson had hired someone to kill Billon, his business partner, they said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that there is now evidence suggesting Robinson may have pulled the trigger himself.
The two men were business partners in the real estate and mortgage business, San Ramon police Lt. Dan Pratt said.
Billon was found dead about 11 p.m. Sunday near his smoldering, bullet-riddled car at 2600 Bishop Drive in San Ramon's city industrial park. He was shot in the chest, according to an autopsy by the Contra Costa County coroner's office.
Robinson did not enter a plea during his arraignment. He was scheduled to appear in court again on May 8.
"It's a tragedy on both sides," Oakland-based defense attorney Adante Pointer was telling reporters outside the courtroom when the victim's brother interrupted him.
"Did you ask him why he did it?" Harv Billon asked.
Pointer said he didn't ask Robinson why he did it and said that Robinson had said he did not kill Billon.
Harv Billon said evidence would come out that would prove Robinson killed his brother.
"Trust me - he will hang. M----- f----- will die," Harv Billon said as his cousin held onto him, gently pushing him back from the attorney.
A few minutes later, Harv Billon told reporters that his brother had known Robinson for many years, had been a mentor to him and had even helped him buy his house.
"Kas took him in and (Robinson) took advantage of his innocence," said Harv Billion, who described his brother as a person who was always helping people.
"Our families are grieving the loss of a really good man," Harv Billon said. "He was a really good man in the prime of his life. We want
justice."
Earlier Thursday, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Harold Jewett said that the murder appeared to stem from fraud involving a residential real estate development on Seventh Street in North Richmond.
Billon reportedly financed the purchase and construction of homes on property that Robinson owned. Although details of how the fraudulent transaction was supposed to work were not released by authorities, it appeared Robinson allegedly planned to sell those homes to a fictitious person through a bank.
The fraudulent purchase was reportedly scheduled to close escrow Monday, "leaving the bank holding the bag," Jewett said.
Investigators were still working to determine how much Billon knew about the alleged scheme.
"It's possible he was killed because he found out about the fraud," Jewett said.
San Ramon police got a break in the case when a person officials are not identifying came forward and told investigators that Robinson had solicited that person to kill Billon the Friday before the murder, Jewett said.
The person said no, and after learning of Billon's murder, contacted investigators and told them about the alleged earlier solicitation, Jewett said.
Robinson was then arrested at his El Sobrante home Monday night.
Investigators are still working to determine whether evidence suggests Robinson killed Billon himself or that he hired someone else to do it.
"He may have solicited someone else; he may have done it himself.
From our point of view he's equally guilty," Jewett said.
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