JPMorgan CEO says foreclosure deal threatened
Reuters
4:56 AM PST, January 26, 2012

(Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said President Barack Obama's decision to expand investigations into home lending and sales of mortgage securities could stop settlement talks with the states over foreclosure practices.

"It has a pretty good chance of derailing it," Dimon said in a televised interview with CNBC from Davos, Switzerland on Thursday.

Obama, in his State of the Union address Tuesday, said he has asked his attorney general to create a special unit of prosecutors to expand investigations into home lending and packaging of mortgage-backed securities. It is not clear how the new unit will be different from earlier investigations.

JPMorgan is the largest U.S. bank and one of the larger servicers of mortgage loans. JPMorgan, Bank of America , Wells Fargo & Co , Citigroup and Ally Financial Inc have been in talks with state attorneys general for months about settling allegations of foreclosure abuses.

The banks and states have been discussing a plan that would have the banks pay $25 billion to homeowners through reductions in principal on mortgage loans.

"I think it would be better for America if that settlement took place," Dimon said. "If this thing derails that, so be it."

(Reporting by David Henry; editing by John Wallace)


Source: http://www.ivpressonline.com/business/sns-rt-us-jpmorgan-foreclosuretre80p0uc-20120126,0,1893647.story

Forbes: Mortgage Fraud Still Rampant

John Wasik, Contributor

I write about investments, financial planning and personal ecology

PERSONAL FINANCE

 

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1/26/2012 @ 12:27PM |1,220 views

Mortgage Fraud Still Rampant

If President Obama is serious about forming a new unit to prosecute financial and mortgage crimes, the first place he should look is at operators who are fleecing desperate homeowners. Scams that target these down-on-their-luck folks are rampant.

State attorneys general are playing whack-a-mole with these shysters, who are exploiting homeowners who just want to avoid foreclosure.

The scam is simple: Companies take upfront fees to save homes from foreclosure or provide debt management services. The services are never delivered and financially ailing homeowners go deeper into the hole and often lose their houses anyway. The companies often advertise as debt “repair” counselors or mortgage “rescue” operations.

There’s a wave of these crimes, which have mushroomed throughout the country. Here’s a sampling of the most recent prosecutions, courtesy of the National Association of Attorneys General:

Firmar documentos de foreclosure bajo otro nombre es falsificación?

Is signing foreclosure documents for others forgery?

Updated: 8:52 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012
Posted: 6:03 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012
By KIMBERLY MILLER, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Theresa Edwards (left) and June Clarkson, who led Florida’s foreclosure fraud investigations, were routinely praised in performance reviews before losing their jobs.


The Nevada attorney general calls signing another person's name on documents used to repossess a home "forgery" and a "scheme."

Michigan's attorney general launched a criminal investigation that includes whether "falsified signatures" were used in foreclosure cases.

But Theresa Edwards and June Clarkson were forced to resign their jobs as foreclosure fraud investigators for the Florida Attorney General's Office, in part, for referring to so-called "surrogate signing" as forgery.

According to a Florida Inspector General report that cleared Attorney General Pam Bondi's office of wrongdoing in the firings, the duo repeatedly used the word "forgery" in a 2010 presentation that included documents from the Jacksonville-based Lender Processing Services. The company complained and drew the attention of economic crimes boss Richard Lawson.

The Florida Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act

The Law

Beginning in 2010, any individual or company that provides loan modification services must have an active license from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. This new provision further enhances the Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, which prohibits individuals and businesses from collecting up-front fees for loan modification services related to foreclosures.

In 2008, the Legislature enacted the original Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act to specifically address foreclosure rescue businesses and their potentially abusive practices. The Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act prohibits businesses or individuals from collecting up-front fees from the homeowner prior to completing all services contained in the contract. This includes foreclosure rescue services or loan modification services related to foreclosures.

Despiden a dos investigadores de la oficina del Procurador General

Two investigators forced out by Attorney General Palm Bondi

Lawyers fought corruption, then lost their jobs

September 29, 2011|Scott Maxwell, TAKING NAMES

When last we checked on Attorney General Pam Bondi, she was being investigated for forcing out two of her top-producing investigators, and legislators had asked her to produce records to justify her actions.

Well, the investigation is still going, and state officials are tight-lipped about when it might be complete.

Doce arrestos en relación a fraude hipotecario en Miami-Dade

Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

September 14, 2011
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

La Oficina de la procuradora general Bondi y el Departamento de Policía de Miami-Dade arrestaron a 12 personas por fraude hipotecario por $16 millones

TALLAHASSEE (Fla) – La procuradora general Pam Bondi y el director del Departamento de Policía de Miami-Dade, James Loftus, anunciaron hoy que arrestaron a 12 personas acusadas de supuesta participación en una maniobra importante de fraude por un total de más de $16 millones. Los acusados arrestados integraban una empresa de delincuentes que entregaban documentación falsificada de préstamos hipotecarios a compañías hipotecarias en todo el área del sur de Florida. Entregaron 10 solicitudes de préstamos hipotecarios que se financiaron y valuaron colectivamente en más de $16 millones. Los acusados serán procesados por la Fiscalía de Estado de la Procuradora General en el Tribunal de Circuito de Miami-Dade.

Arrestan a dueños de Best Value Homes por fraude en modificación de hipotecas

Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

August 17, 2011
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Arresto de propietarios de compañía de servicios falsos de modificación del préstamo del sur de Florida

TALLAHASSEE (Fla) –La procuradora general Pam Bondi anunció hoy el arresto de los propietarios de Best Value Homes, Inc. por asociación ilícita para cometer violaciones a la ley RICO (la ley de Organizaciones corruptas y extorsionadoras) y fraude organizado. Best Value Homes, Inc., presentaba servicios falsos al prometer modificar las hipotecas de sus clientes y tomar su dinero sin cumplir con los servicios prometidos. La Oficina del Fiscal Estatal de la Procuradora General de Florida, la Fiscalía Estatal del 11.º Circuito Judicial y la Fuerza Especial contra el Fraude Hipotecario del Departamento de Policía de Miami-Dade colaboraron en el arresto y acusación de los acusados. La pérdida total se estima en $750,000 para 500 víctimas. Si se los declara culpables de todos los cargos, los acusados podrían recibir condenas a prisión de hasta sesenta años.

Demandan a tres compañias por cobrar anticipos en modificación de préstamos

Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

May 2, 2011
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Bondi inicia demanda contra tres compañías de Florida del Sur por fraude en rescate de ejecuciones hipotecarias

TALLAHASSEE (Fla)- La procuradora general, Pam Bondi, anunció hoy que su oficina inició una demanda contra tres compañías del Sur de la Florida que, supuestamente, cobran anticipos por servicios de modificación del préstamo a los propietarios que enfrentan ejecuciones hipotecarias. Conforme a la F.S. 501.1377, cobrar sumas anticipadas por estos servicios es ilegal. Home Owner Protection Economics, Inc., DC Financial Group, Deleverage America, Inc. y los propietarios Dennis Fischer y Christopher S. Godfrey cobraron miles de dólares mensuales, a sabiendas, anticipos por servicios de modificación de préstamos que nunca proveyeron. Como consecuencia de la demanda iniciada por la Oficina de la Procuradora General, el Tribunal de Circuito del condado de Palm Beach ordenó que se congelen los activos de los acusados y que se les prohíba operar hasta un nuevo fallo del tribunal.

Demandan compañia de modificación de prestamos por cobrar anticipo

Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

April 11, 2011
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Procuradora general Bondi advierte a los consumidores sobre estafas en la modificación de préstamos hipotecarios

Tallahassee (Fla) – Hoy la procuradora general, Pam Bondi, presentó una demanda contra una compañía de modificación de préstamos hipotecarios porque, al parecer, solicitaban a los consumidores que paguen una suma como anticipo por sus servicios. Según reveló una investigación de la Oficina de la Procuradora General, supuestamente, U.S. Mitigators, LLC, compañía que provee servicios de modificación de préstamos para la vivienda, les solicitaba a los consumidores que pagaran un anticipo de $2,100 antes de prestar sus servicios. Muchos consumidores denunciaron haber pagado la suma de $2,100 además de un arancel por solicitud de $399 por servicios que nunca recibieron. La demanda de la Procuradora General contra la compañía busca obtener más de $48,000 de restitución para los consumidores.

Acuerdo con abogado Marshall C. Watson por ejecuciones hipotecarias indebidas

Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release

March 25, 2011
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

La procuradora general de Florida, Pam Bondi, llega a un arreglo en investigación contra una de las mayores firmas de ejecuciones hipotecarias del estado

TALLAHASSEE (FL) – La procuradora general de Florida, Pam Bondi, anunció hoy un arreglo histórico en una demanda contra el abogado Marshall C. Watson y su bufete, una de las mayores firmas de Florida dedicada a las ejecuciones hipotecarias, por supuestas acciones indebidas en el procesamiento de causas por ejecuciones hipotecarias en toda Florida. Este acuerdo, que exige el pago de $2 millones y la imposición de determinados requisitos para ejercer la profesión, es el primero que surge de numerosas investigaciones de bufetes dedicados a ejecuciones hipotecarias en Florida.

Abogado de "rescate" de ejecuciones hipotecarias acusado de falsificar documentos

Foreclosure lawyer accused of forgery

10/28/2010 © Miami Herald

A Coral Springs lawyer who worked for a troubled foreclosure rescue company is facing a criminal probe for allegedly forging court documents.

BY DAVID OVALLE

State authorities are investigating allegations that a Coral Springs lawyer forged the signatures of Broward County judges while working with a disgraced foreclosure assistance company, court documents show.
The lawyer, Frank J. Ingrassia, worked with Outreach Housing, which is accused of siphoning more than $2 million from desperate homeowners, according to a search warrant filed in Miami-Dade court this month.

Procurador General de la Florida se involucra en la crisis de ejecuciones inmobiliarias

Florida's foray into the foreclosure crisis

10/21/2010 © South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial

For a short-timer, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has a lot on his plate, particularly when it comes to residential and commercial foreclosures. News of unscrupulous lending practices, coupled with the examination of those practices by lenders, resonates in a state that relies so heavily on real estate for growth and jobs. So it was a relief that McCollum last week joined counterparts in the other 49 states in scrutinizing banks, mortgage companies and loan servicers involved in the debilitating foreclosure crisis. He has also asked for a meeting with major lenders that have curtailed foreclosure procedures to assess how big an impact a foreclosure moratorium could have on Florida.
The reality is that the impact could be huge. Half of Florida's housing sales currently involve foreclosed properties, and if that pipeline is shut off for a long period of time, it would prolong hopes for an economic recovery in the Sunshine State. For that reason, McCollum is wise to hold off on any further action, such as encouraging a freeze on foreclosures or initiating lawsuits, at this point.

Procuradioría General de Florida amonesta a uno de sus abogados por trabajo en foreclosure mill

AG's office reprimands one of its attorneys for "foreclosure mill" work

10/20/2010 © Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - The Florida Attorney General's Office has reprimanded one its attorneys for notarizing documents for one of the "foreclosure mills" the office is investigating. Erin Cullaro, an assistant attorney general for the office's Economic Crimes Division in Tampa, is a former employee of Tampa-based Florida Default Law Group.
The Attorney General is investigating the firm, along with three other Florida firms, for what "appears to be fabricating and/or presenting false and misleading documents in foreclosure cases."
Cullaro was given permission from the Attorney General's Office in April 2008 for dual employment, allowing her to notarize law firm documents for 15 minutes three days a week.
But, according to the written reprimand, Cullaro failed to renew the application into the new fiscal year, "which would have altered the {Attorney General's Office } to your continued outside employment and accurately reflected the time commitment involved."

Testigos afirman que firma legal ofrecía incentivos por alterar documentos

Witness: Foreclosure firm owner gave gifts for altering documents

10/19/2010 © Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Some employees of Florida's largest "foreclosure mill" were given jewelry,
cars and houses from the firm, in exchange for altering and forging key documents used to
obtain foreclosures, according to a statement released today by the Florida Attorney General's
Office.
The office released transcripts of two interviews it conducted for its investigation into
the law offices of David J. Stern. The sworn statements were from Kelly Scott, a former
employee of Stern's and Mary R. Cordova, a former employee of G&Z, a process server used
by Stern's office. The women's testimonies appear to back up that of former Stern's employee
Tammie Lou Kapusta, whose statement was released last week. The three statements paint a
picture of a secret system designed to speed up the foreclosure process. Attorneys and staff
members forged signatures, changed dates, passed around notary stamps, the women say in
interviews with attorney general's staff.

Presentan declaración jurada en investigación a abogados de ejecuciones hipotecarias

Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

October 18, 2010
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

El Procurador General publica más declaraciones juradas en las investigaciones que involucran a David Stern y a Marshall Watson

El Procurador General, Bill McCollum, publicó hoy otras tres declaraciones juradas en las investigaciones en curso sobre los Bufetes de Abogados Marshall C. Watson, P.A. y David J. Stern, P.A. por su supuesta participación en la fabricación de documentación y posterior presentación de la misma ante los tribunales en acciones de ejecución hipotecaria para obtener sentencias definitivas contra los propietarios de las viviendas. La oficina continuará publicando las declaraciones a medida que éstas lleguen.

Abogados de Orlando procesados por cobrar anticipo en modificaciones de hipotecas

Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

October 15, 2010
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Sentencia adjudica millones de dólares a la Oficina del Procurador General en demanda contra operación de modificación de préstamos

TALLAHASSEE (FL) – El Procurador General, Bill McCollum, anunció hoy que su oficina obtuvo una sentencia que le adjudica $4.3 millones de dólares en demanda contra la que se considera la mayor operación de modificación de préstamos de Florida Central. El fallo de hoy condena a Wineberg, Lopez & Rodriguez, y a sus propietarios, Wineberg, Rodríguez, h. y Freddie Lopez, Sr. por violaciones a la Ley de Prevención del Fraude en las Ejecuciones Hipotecarias de Florida. El fallo fue dictado por el Tribunal de Circuito del condado de Orange.

Juez de Palm Beach niega al Procurador General pedido sobre "Foreclosure Mills"

Palm Beach judge denies state's request in "foreclosure mill firm" case
Ruling says Florida Bar and courts, not state regulators, have jurisdiction

Diane C. Lade
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
1:41 PM EDT, October 14, 2010

A Palm Beach County judge will not allow the Florida Attorney General's request for
documents that would bolster its investigation of one of the state's largest foreclosure law
firms, saying The Florida Bar and the courts were responsible for regulating attorneys.
Circuit Judge Jack S. Cox on Thursday denied the state's request for a rehearing on the case involving Shapiro & Fishman, of Boca Raton, one of three South Florida foreclosure firms under state investigation since August. Two of the three have been fighting the Attorney General Bill McCollum's original subpoenas for extensive documents involving the firms employees, investments and clients over the past five years.
Gerald Richman, the attorney representing Shapiro & Fishman, had filed a motion to quash the subpoenas, arguing McCollum had no jurisdiction. Cox agreed last week, adding the request was overbroad, vague and unduly burdensome.

Campaña multiestatal para reglamentar servicios de hipotecas

Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

October 13, 2010
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Procurador General McCollum anuncia esfuerzo multiestatal para reglamentar sobre prácticas engañosas y desleales en los servicios de hipotecas

TALLAHASSEE (FL) – El Procurador General, Bill McCollum, anunció hoy que se está llevando a cabo una campaña para reglamentar los servicios de hipotecas y proteger a los floridanos de supuestas prácticas engañosas y desleales. El Procurador General McCollum y otros 49 procuradores generales participan en una operación multiestatal destinada a detener a los prestamistas hipotecarios en la supuesta presentación de declaraciones juradas o la firma de notificaciones que parecen tener defectos de procedimiento en ejecuciones judiciales o extrajudiciales.

Procuradores Generales de Florida y otros 39 estados investigan crisis de ejecuciones hipotecarias

General joins 39 states investigating foreclosure crisis
10/12/2010 © South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has joined top regulators from 39 other states in scrutinizng the banks, mortgage companies and loan servicers involved in the widening foreclosure crisis.
But McCollum stopped short of calling for some or all lenders to temporarily halt to foreclosures, short sales or evictions — something attorneys general in Massachusettes, Texas and some other states have done within the past week.
"While this is no doubt a serious matter, there still exist valid foreclosures that need not be delayed," said Ryan Wiggins, McCollum's spokeswoman.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who is leading the State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group that Florida joined, last week asked that foreclosures by three major lenders be stalled in that state: the GMAC Mortgage unit of Ally Financial, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase.

Apelan fallo en caso Shapiro & Fishman LLP y otros abogados investigados

Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

October 11, 2010
Media Contact: Jennifer Krell Davis
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Procurador General presenta solicitud de reconsideración del fallo judicial en la investigación Shapiro & Fishman

El Procurador General Bill McCollum apeló hoy el fallo de la semana pasada del Juez de Circuito, Judge Cox, que determina que el Procurador General no puede investigar el bufete Shapiro & Fishman por su presunta participación en la presentación ante la justicia de documentos falsos en acciones de ejecución hipotecaria con el fin de obtener sentencias definitivas contra los propietarios. El Procurador General está investigando actualmente cuatro bufetes, The Law Offices de Marshall C. Watson, P.A.; Shapiro & Fishman, LLP, The Law Offices de David J. Stern, P.A., y Florida Default Law Group, PL por la supuesta implementación de estas prácticas.