Federal Jury Convicts San Antonio Woman Of Bilking Homeowners In Foreclosure Of Upfront Fees In Exchange For Bogus Promises Of Help

In San Antonio, Texas, the San Antonio Express News reports:

• A San Antonio woman accused of bilking $100,000 from several people who thought she could help stop foreclosure on their homes was convicted Wednesday of all 14 charges she faced. Rosario Castro Divins [aka Rosie Divins], 54, showed little emotion after hearing the guilty verdicts to seven counts of criminal contempt and seven counts of mail fraud. Jurors took an hour and a half to find her guilty.

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• After the verdict, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered Divins jailed, citing her criminal past and her new conviction as reasons for keeping her off the streets pending sentencing in September.

• Representatives of seven families testified during her trial that, after falling behind on their mortgages, they paid her money after receiving a direct-mailed ad that purported to stop foreclosure. Four of the victims said they ended up losing their home, while three said they wound up saving their houses through other means — such as working with the Veterans Administration, filing for bankruptcy or negotiating with the lender.

• All said they did not know she had been ordered repeatedly by bankruptcy judges to stop claiming she could stop foreclosures. Had they known that, they said, they would never had paid her money and chosen another course.

For more, see Businesswoman convicted for defrauding homeowners.

For the U.S. Attorney (Western District - Texas) press release, see Federal Jury Convicts San Antonio Woman Of Criminal Contempt And Mail Fraud In Foreclosure Prevention Scheme.

For the indictment, see U.S. v. Divins.

Go here for earlier posts on this alleged foreclosure rescue scam. loan modification