New Jersey Contractor Cons Two Out Of Their Homes; Uses Straw Buyer To Cash In

Oscar Brown, a Jersey City contractor and owner of Divine Developers, was arrested late last month on charges he conned two homeowners out of their residences and then sold them to a straw buyer in order to "cash in" on the alleged swindle, according to a story in The Jersey Journal. He was charged with theft by deception stemming from the false documents and false representations he made to the mortgage companies.

According to a county prosecutor, it was only when the bank began foreclosure proceedings after being stiffed by the straw buyer that the real owners learned they no longer owned their homes. Both homeowners had to obtain court orders to keep from losing their homes.

Reportedly, Brown persuaded the two homeowners to sign over the deeds to their property when they couldn't afford to pay for work he performed. They were told that it was an interim solution while they worked to get a loan to cover the construction bill, according to authorities.

For more, see Call contractor a $$$ trickster (Two nearly lost homes to scheme).
.