Salesperson For Outfit That Screwed Over 4,000 Homeowners Peddling Bogus Loan Modifications Gets Six Years & Ordered To Pay Back $6M+, Joining Several Other Confederates Earning Prison Stays For Roles In Nationwide Mortgage Relief Racket

From the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP):

• Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) announced that Michael Lewis Parker, of Pomona, Calif., who worked at a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. based business that offered bogus loan modifications was sentenced in California [] to serve a federal prison term of six years, and to pay restitution of over $6 million.
  
  “Michael Lewis Parker, as a 21st Century salesman, lured in distressed homeowners with a money-back guarantee and by convincing them that the company employed a team of lawyers who would ensure a successful mortgage modification,” said Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP).
  
  “Parker and his co-conspirators used a variety of means to deceive homeowners and string homeowners along, including filing for bankruptcy, charging legal fees for services not performed, collecting mortgage payments that were never provided to lenders, and directing homeowners to cease communications with their lender. Claiming to be associated with a loan modification program sponsored by the U. S. government, Parker and others defrauded over 4,000 homeowners, many of whom ultimately lost homes to foreclosure, out of more than $7 million. It is fitting that these criminals will serve time in federal prison and will have ample opportunity to reflect on the pain and suffering inflicted on so many innocent citizens already strained by the financial crisis.
  
  SIGTARP stands united with our law enforcement partners to stop all TARP-bailout related crime.”
  
  21st Century
  
  A total of 11 defendants linked to 21st Century have been convicted of federal charges involving fraud against more than 4,000 homeowners across the nation, many of whom lost their homes to foreclosure.
  
  Previously, Christopher George, a co-owner of 21st Century, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison; Crystal Buck, a sales “closer” who persuaded numerous victims to pay fees to 21st Century received a sentence of five years; Albert DiRoberto, handled sales and marketing – which included making a commercial for 21st Century and preparing talking points to respond to negative publicity – was sentenced to five years in prison;, Yadira Padilla, who handled client complaints and refund requests, and who posted bogus reviews of the company on the internet – was sentenced to four years in prison, and Michael Bates, a sales employee for the company was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

For more, see California Mortgage Modification Scammer Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison And Payment Of Over $6 Million In Restitution.