Connecticut Woman Feels Pinch For Allegedly Conspiring To Peddle Phony Debt Elimination Program To Vulnerable Homeowners, Others Looking For Financial Help; Prosecutor: Bogus Promissory Notes, Other Frivolous Paperwork Were Provided To Victims That Could Purportedly Be Used In Paying Off Mortgages, Other Loans

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (New Haven, Connecticut):

• Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today [February 17] announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned a nine-count indictment charging URMILA SRI THAKUR, also known as Urmila Buddhu-Thakur and Indro Buddhu-Thakur, 72, of Wethersfield, with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering offenses related to a fraudulent debt elimination scheme.
  
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  According to court documents, from 2009 to June 2012, THAKUR, her former husband, Deowraj “Deo” Buddhu and their daughter, Sunita Buddhu, sold a debt elimination “program” to vulnerable individuals through various businesses, including Paradise Consulting Service, Hema, Inc., and Secured Redemption.
  
  In exchange for substantial fees, Deo Buddhu told victims about a little-known government fund that could be used to pay off their mortgages and other debts. In fact, no such fund exists. Buddhu instructed his victims to stop making payments on their mortgages, credit cards and other debts, and to stop paying their property taxes. He also provided his victims with fictitious promissory notes, which he called “bonds,” as well as other frivolous documentation, and advised his victims to use them to pay their debts.
  
  The indictment alleges that THAKUR participated in the scheme by signing documents provided to victims as a witness, taking money from victims in exchange for their participation in the purported program, and managing payroll operations for the various businesses used for the purpose of selling and attempting to sell the program to the victims.
  
  The indictment further alleges that, on June 12, 2012, the day after Deo Buddhu’s arrest, THAKUR withdrew $75,000 from a certificate of deposit account that contained funds from the scheme.
  
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  Deo Buddhu and Sunita Buddhu were previously convicted in Hartford federal court.

Source: Indictment Charges Wethersfield Woman with Offenses Stemming from Debt Elimination Scheme.