Plea Deal In The Works For Foreclosure Rescue Operators?

In Northern California, The Modesto Bee reports:

• "Two men awaiting trial on charges of swindling people out of their homes took the uncommon step Wednesday of waiving their right to a preliminary hearing on similar additional counts. A possibly pending plea bargain and civil settlement factored into the waiver by Lonni Ashlock and Ronald Buhler, defense attorneys said Thursday. [...] Witnesses from throughout Stanislaus County at a fall hearing said they faced foreclosure when Ashlock and Buhler gained their confidence, then duped them into signing over deeds for pennies on the dollar."

For more, see Plea deal for men accused of fraud? (Prosecutor tells judge both sides talking in Ashlock-Buhler case).

For prior reports on these defendants, see:

• Foreclosure case witnesses take fire (10-20-06)
• Foreclosure avoidance partners targeted (7-3-05)