Oregon AG Indicts Mtg Broker/Loan Modification Firm Owner For Allegedly Cheating Homeowners In Foreclosure; Aggravated Theft, Forgery Among Charges

From the Oregon Department of Justice:

• Attorney General John Kroger [...] announced the indictment of a Salem mortgage broker on charges of mortgage fraud, aggravated theft, forgery and identity theft. It is is the first indictment by the Attorney General's Mortgage Fraud Task Force. "We intend to prosecute mortgage fraud aggressively. If you cheat vulnerable Oregonians facing foreclosure, we will hold you accountable," said Attorney General Kroger.

• Julian James Ruiz III, 38, is the manager and owner of American Home Modifications, a Salem-based loan modification company. He faces 17 counts of first degree aggravated theft, mortgage fraud, identity theft, aggravated identity theft, forgery in the first degree and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree.

For the entire press release, see Mortgage Broker Indicted For Fraud (First indictment by the Attorney General's Mortgage Fraud Task Force).