SAN DIEGO -- A man accused of stealing more than $100,000 from people in a land patent foreclosure scam pleaded not guilty Wednesday to numerous felony charges involving the 17 alleged victims.

Larry Smith, 60, allegedly told people who came to his seminars that if they gave him thousands of dollars, he would help them buy a land patent so the bank couldn't foreclose on it.

Deputy District Attorney Marlene Coyne said the land patent scheme is bogus.

None of the land patents that Smith supposedly got for his victims prevented their homes from being foreclosed, the prosecutor said outside court.

Smith allegedly told his victims that he could save their properties from foreclosure by making them sovereign, like an independent country.

The defendant allegedly used something called a Spanish land grant, a document intended to protect the rights of early American settlers.

Five others are charged in the case with Smith, although only one has been arrested, Coyne said.

The prosecutor said she believes there are more people allegedly victimized by Smith, who have not yet come forward.

Smith was charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, conspiracy to commit deceitful practices by a foreclosure consultant and numerous counts of grand theft.

He faces 37 years to life in prison if convicted.

Judge David Szumowski ordered Smith held on $3 million bail and scheduled a review hearing for Monday.

A readiness conference was set for Jan. 12 and a preliminary hearing for Jan. 14.