Florida Widow Loses Home In Mortgage Scam; Police Charge 3, Look for 2 More

In Florida, the St. Petersburg Times reports that Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies have arrested Ron and Lois Lichte and charged them with exploiting the elderly grand theft, money laundering, conspiracy and related crimes where, among other things, they allegedly tricked a 77 year old Tampa, Florida widow into signing a mortgage on her home of 35 + years. They, along with three other conspirators, allegedly swindled a total of at least $335,000 from the widow and another Hillsborough woman, according to police. The widow ended up forced to sell her home to pay off the mortgage and now lives in a nursing home.

As for the other alleged conspirators, authorities are still searching for Clyde Fretwell, 37, of Ruskin, and Joel Hill, 37, of Tampa. Michael Richardson, 34, of Bradenton, is the fifth member of the alleged ring and is already being held without bond after being arrested on June 25 on unrelated charges, police said.

Investigators believe that the group has struck many more bay area victims. For more, see A 'trusting soul' is fleeced (Hillsborough deputies believe Mary Shower is one of many conned by a five-person ring).

See also, Sheriff's office says scam exploited elderly.

Story updates:

• Authorities say woman, 85, lost thousands in home repair scheme (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 9-28-07),
• A fourth suspect is now in custody. See Man Charged With Exploiting Elderly (The Tampa Tribune),
• Clyde T. Fretwell, 37, was arrested by deputies Monday (9-3-07) and being held in Orient Road Jail with bail set at $300,000. He surrendered at the jail on warrants charging him with grand theft of more than $100,000, exploitation of the elderly, money laundering, contracting without a license and committing a white-collar crime, records show. For more, see 5 Charged With Bilking Elderly In Repair Scam (The Tampa Tribune, 9-4-07).