Sleazy Attorney Again Finds Himself Swimming In Hot Water; Disbarred In Other Jurisdictions, Gets Pinched In Connecticut For Alleged Role In Scam That Duped Foreclosure-Facing Homeowners Out Of Their Homes, Then Used Properties In Rent-Skimming Racket

In Bridgeport, Connecticut, The Day reports:

• Bridgeport attorney Bradford Barneys has been indicted in U.S. District Court on charges he conspired with accused con man Timothy W. Burke to operate a long-running mortgage fraud scheme that targeted homeowners throughout the state who were on the verge of losing their homes.
  
  Barneys, 50, who resides in Odenton, Md., appeared [] before Judge Donna F. Martinez in Bridgeport. He pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and mail fraud. He was released on a $50,000 bond.
  
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  His Connecticut law license remains active, according to public records, though it had been temporarily suspended four times since 2001.
  
  He was disbarred from practicing law in Maryland in 2002 and in the District of Columbia in 2004.
  
  The indictment [] alleges that from April 2011 to September 2014, Burke and Barneys conspired to defraud individuals, mortgage lenders and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by falsely representing to homeowners who were in or facing foreclosure on their homes that he would purchase their homes and pay off their mortgages.
  
  According to the government, the distressed homeowners agreed to sign various documents, including quitclaim deeds, indemnification agreements, management agreements and third-party authorization letters, which Burke and Barneys presented to them on the understanding that, by signing the documents, they would be able to walk away from their homes without the burdens of their mortgage or other costs associated with home ownership.
  
  Barneys met or spoke with homeowners to reassure them about their sale to Burke, according to the indictment.
  
  Burke told homeowners that the process of negotiating with the lenders could take time and that, in the meantime, they should ignore any notices regarding foreclosure, according to the indictment.
  
  After he gained control of the houses, Burke advertised them for rent, sometimes on Craigslist.com, and falsely represented to tenants that he owned them, according to the government.
  
  The indictment further alleges that Burke or one of his agents collected rent from tenants, in person, and Burke used the funds for his own benefit.
  
  When tenants failed to pay rent, Barneys would evict them so that Burke could rent the property to other tenants.
  
  Burke failed to negotiate with the mortgage holders of the distressed properties or make mortgage, tax and other payments on the homes and failed to pay any rental income he was collecting to the homeowners, according to the government.
  
  Many of the properties were ultimately foreclosed upon by the mortgage lender.

For the story, see Burke’s attorney indicted for conspiring to dupe distressed homeowners.

For the U.S. Attorney press release, see Bridgeport Man Charged with Conspiring with Easton Man to Defraud Distressed Homeowners.