Monday, June 23, 2008

"Money Store" Scam Victims Also To Blame, Defense Attorney Says; Indecipherable HUD-1s Understandable Only By A Mathematician, Counters Judge

In addition to the news of the recent federal indictment in Maryland of eight defendants in the Metropolitan Money Store alleged equity stripping, foreclosure rescue scam, a story of a Federal court hearing that took place this past Friday in a separate, class action civil lawsuit involving the now-defunct company was recently reported by WTOP Radio 103.5 FM (Washington, D.C.). The following excerpt caught my eye:

  • In federal court on Friday, an attorney for one of the title companies named in the civil suit told Judge Roger Titus that the victims were guilty of contributory negligence -- that they in essence, were also to blame. This infuriated Angele Reid of Oxon Hill, who sat in on the motions hearing.

  • "I was really ready to strangle him," Reid said. "Because if you look at the documents, even a real estate attorney would have difficulty figuring out that something was going wrong." Federal Judge Roger Titus seemed to agree, pointing out that the federal forms known as HUD-1's were indecipherable. At one point Titus said only a mathematician could understand them.

For the story, see Homeowners fight foreclosure fraud with class action.

Go here and go here for other posts on the alleged Metropolitan Money Store foreclosure rescue scam.

Postscript:

Were JoyJackson and Kurt Fordham doing business in North Carolina when they were arrested? Regading their June 12 arrest in Raleigh, North Carolina, a recent story in The Charlotte Post reports:

  • A source from Maryland, wishing to remain anonymous, said Jackson and Fordham relocated to North Carolina in order to conduct business [t]here. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland would not confirm details, citing the ongoing case.

For this story, see Mortgage hucksters busted in Raleigh (no longer available online). joyjackson