$3M Bond Sustained In 147 Count Akron-Area Mortgage Fraud Indictment

In Akron, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• A Summit County judge denied a defense request on Wednesday to reduce the $3 million cash bond for Evergreen Corp. President David B. Willan. Willan, 37, was among 17 suspects named last month in a 147-count indictment in connection with a two-year investigation into Akron-area mortgage fraud. [...] Defense lawyer Brian J. Williams called the bond ''utterly ridiculous'' and told [Summit County Common Pleas Judge Thomas A.] Teodosio that bond for a defendant in a pending Summit County murder case is $1 million for the most serious crime under Ohio law. By contrast, Williams said, Willan is charged with a ''white-collar'' crime, has no previous criminal history, was born in Barberton, still lives here and, therefore, should not be considered a flight risk.

For more, see Bond upheld for mortgage fraud suspect (Evergreen president's lawyer says $3 million is ridiculous for white-collar crime case).

In a related story, see Homebuyers trapped (Inflated prices, double mortgages lead to problems)

• "[A Stark County, Ohio homeowner] wonders if she’s caught in the same mortgage-fraud trap that Summit County prosecutors say ensnared at least 300 properties near Akron. One Summit County prosecutor thinks so. And he says Hammond likely isn’t the only Stark County resident affected." [Homeowner purchased house from David Willan's Evergreen Homes.]

Go here for other posts on the Akron-area 147 count mortgage fraud indictment.