Sentencing Hearing Begins For Maryland Man Convicted For Role In Equity Stripping Foreclosure Rescue Scam

In Baltimore, Maryland, WBAL-TV Channel 11 reports:

• A Maryland man who ran television ads claiming he could save homes from foreclosure was in court Thursday for the first day of his mortgage fraud sentencing. Michael K. Lewis pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud in a foreclosure rescue scheme.(1) He was supposed to be sentenced Thursday, but part of the hearing was suspended so the defense could locate six of its witnesses.

• "I thought this plan was there to help people," Lewis told 11 News I-Team reporter Barry Simms as he left the courthouse. Lewis still defended his plan to get financially strapped homeowners out of debt, something he called the "MKL Financial Diet." He blamed others for the fall of his business network. "Circumstances that were out of my control and things were being done that I knew nothing about," he said. [...] Lewis will be back in court Sept. 11. He could get up to 25 years in federal prison.

For the story, see Man Convicted Of Mortgage Fraud Claims Innocence (Sentencing Begins In Michael K. Lewis Fraud Case).

(1) See U.S. Attorney press release: Leader of Mortgage Fraud Scheme Confesses and Agrees to Forfeit $2 Million for Targeting Victims with TV Ads.