Ohio Judge Again Reduces Willan Bail Bond; Still Unaffordable

In Akron, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• Former Evergreen Corp. President David B. Willan remained in the Summit County Jail on Monday after being unable to post a $100,000 cash bond, and he may remain there through trial, his lawyer said. [...] Willan, 37, the focus of a 147-count indictment alleging widespread Akron-area mortgage fraud, has been held at the jail since his Dec. 19 arrest. He is one of 17 defendants in the case. The 66-page indictment alleges that Willan and the others set up a web of predatory borrowing and securities scams that bilked area investors, homeowners and lenders out of some $16 million.

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• Last Friday, a judge modified the terms of Willan's release, from a $1 million cash or surety bond to a $1 million, 10 percent cash bond. But Willan's attempts over the weekend to come up with the necessary $100,000 were unsuccessful, [defense lawyer William] Whitaker said.

The bond was originally set at $3 million. For more, see Evergreen leader fails to raise cash for bond (Lawyer says mortgage-fraud suspect lacks funds, might stay in jail through trial).

For story updates, see:

• (12-6-08) Willan guilty of all charges in fraud case (Bond revoked after businessman convicted of theft from elderly, plus mortgage and securities counts),
• (3-30-08) Clock is ticking on Willan fraud case (Woman is among those saying she lost everything in what county, state officials call a $16 million scam. Judge gives prosecutors 30 days to spell out allegations),
• (3-21-08) Willan liquor license targeted (New indictment goes after his 'Stripped' club).

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Ohio Judge Knocks $2M Off Akron-Area Fraud Suspect's Still Unaffordable Bond

In Summit County, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• A Summit County judge reduced the bond Friday to $1 million cash for former Evergreen Corp. President David B. Willan, but afterward Willan's lawyer told the court there still was ''no possibility'' that he could pay that amount to get out of jail. Willan, 37, has been held at the county jail on a $3 million bond since his Dec. 19 arrest. [...] Willan, the principal figure in a 147-count indictment alleging widespread Akron-area mortgage fraud, is charged with multiple first-degree felonies that potentially could mean incarceration for 54 to 319 years, [Common Pleas Judge Thomas A. ] Teodosio noted.

For more, see Bond is reduced for Willan (Former Evergreen executive still can't afford $1 million, lawyer says).

Foe story update, see Evergreen leader fails to raise cash for bond (Lawyer says mortgage-fraud suspect lacks funds, might stay in jail through trial).

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$3M Bond Sustained In 147 Count Akron-Area Mortgage Fraud Indictment

In Akron, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• A Summit County judge denied a defense request on Wednesday to reduce the $3 million cash bond for Evergreen Corp. President David B. Willan. Willan, 37, was among 17 suspects named last month in a 147-count indictment in connection with a two-year investigation into Akron-area mortgage fraud. [...] Defense lawyer Brian J. Williams called the bond ''utterly ridiculous'' and told [Summit County Common Pleas Judge Thomas A.] Teodosio that bond for a defendant in a pending Summit County murder case is $1 million for the most serious crime under Ohio law. By contrast, Williams said, Willan is charged with a ''white-collar'' crime, has no previous criminal history, was born in Barberton, still lives here and, therefore, should not be considered a flight risk.

For more, see Bond upheld for mortgage fraud suspect (Evergreen president's lawyer says $3 million is ridiculous for white-collar crime case).

In a related story, see Homebuyers trapped (Inflated prices, double mortgages lead to problems)

• "[A Stark County, Ohio homeowner] wonders if she’s caught in the same mortgage-fraud trap that Summit County prosecutors say ensnared at least 300 properties near Akron. One Summit County prosecutor thinks so. And he says Hammond likely isn’t the only Stark County resident affected." [Homeowner purchased house from David Willan's Evergreen Homes.]

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17 Indicted In Alleged Akron Fraud Racket; 147 Count Indictment Announced

In Summit County, Ohio, local media outlets report the announcement of a 147-count indictment which outlines the alleged schemes involving a group of Evergreen companies in Akron, and Carnation Banc, a local mortgage-banking company. The alleged schemes reportedly claimed 500+ victims. The indictments were the result of a mortgage fraud investigation conducted by an Ohio joint state/local task force. According to the reports:

• On Thursday, investigators announced the indictment of 17 suspects, including Evergreen's President, David Willan, and six other company employees. "David Willan sold more than 300 homes in a two-year period," said Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. "Currently, 42.7 percent of those homes have been foreclosed." Those foreclosed properties are valued at more than $6 million, Walsh said. Also indicted were four employees of Carnation Banc.

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• It was an extensive two-year investigation into Akron-area mortgage fraud — about 800,000 pages of documents and thousands of manpower hours costing taxpayers millions. [... The indictment] alleg[ed] a web of predatory borrowing and securities scams that allegedly bilked investors, homeowners and lenders out of at least $16 million.

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• A captain from the [Summit County] Sheriff's Office was assigned to lead the investigation. The state provided financial assistance. The Ohio Attorney General's Office provided an investigator and a forensic accountant. The task force also included Sheriff's Office detectives, Summit County prosecutors, Cuyahoga Falls detectives and an Akron police detective.

It appears that Carnation Banc's president Craig Conner won the race to the prosecutor's office, reportedly waiving the reading of his indictment, pleading guilty to 22 felonies, and agreeing to start singing against his now former alleged confederates (no doubt an attempt at getting an easier sentence), according to prosecutor Walsh.

For more, see:

• Charges called the first wave in fraud probe (17 people, two Akron companies face 147 counts. More action expected across Ohio in investigation of mortgage, securities scams that raked in millions) (Akron Beacon Journal),
• Summit County announces 17 indictments in mortgage lending scheme (Cleveland Plain Dealer),
• Mortgage-fraud indictments announced in Summit (Akron Beacon Journal),
• Home mortgage scheme nets 17 indictments (WKYC-TV Channel 3) (read story) (watch video).

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Family, Friends Come Forward In Bail Out Attempt For Akron-Area Mortgage Fraud Suspect

In Akron, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• Five family members and friends of former Evergreen Corp. President David B. Willan offered their homes and property Tuesday to back a signature bond that defense lawyers are requesting for Willan's release from the Summit County Jail. Willan, 37, is charged with multiple first-degree felonies in a 147-count Summit County indictment alleging widespread Akron-area mortgage fraud. He has been held in lieu of a $3 million bond since his Dec. 19 arrest. His lawyer, William Whitaker, said at Tuesday's hearing that Willan's business was taken over in bankruptcy court and that he no longer has any assets to finance a flight from prosecution.

For more, see Family, friends offer property, homes for ex-Evergreen president's jail release.

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Akron-Area Mortgage Fraud Indictments Linked To Strip Joint, Say Prosecutors

In Summit County, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• Summit County prosecutors, who on Thursday announced a 147-count indictment in an alleged mortgage fraud and money laundering scheme, say they have linked the multimillion-dollar operation to the purchase of an Akron strip club. Stripped, a nightclub on Brittain Road south of Tallmadge Avenue, was run by Brianna Fullerton, the girlfriend of a key figure in the investigation — Evergreen Investment and Evergreen Homes President David B. Willan. Fullerton and Willan were among the 17 indicted Thursday and are tied by public records to Stripped and companies that purchased the club in May 2006.

For more, see Prosecutors say purchase of strip club, fraud linked (Girlfriend of key figure ran business, official says; seven plead not guilty on Friday).

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