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Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar
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California Couple Arrested in Elder Abuse involving Real Estate Fraud
Homes Allegedly Stolen from Elderly Woman
Charlene Padilla Humphrey, 51, Twentynine Palms, California, and her husband, Mark Terrence Humphrey, 46, Twentynine Palms, California, were arrested in connection with Grand Theft and Elder Abuse of Garneth Sylvia, 92.
An investigation by the San Bernardino County Real Estate Fraud Unit determined that Charlene Humphrey gained the confidence and trust of the elderly victim and convinced her to move to California from Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
The Humphreys convinced the victim to purchase two homes in Twentynine Palms, California and then pressured the victim into signing over title of the properties to the Humphreys. The Humphreys then took out a loan on one home in the 5400 Block of Morongo Road, which the victim had purchased for $50,000. Charlene Humphrey misled the victim into signing the property over to them as a gift, while the victim believed she was signing documents necessary to receive her share of funds from the home. The victim received nothing and the Humphreys financed $100,000 and used the proceeds to pay off their own debts. Additionally, the Humphreys used stolen proceeds to buy a home in Harlem, Georgia.
The Humphreys also convinced the victim to invest an additional $48,000 for a “Bed and Breakfast” they told the victim they would open in the 72000 block of Sunnyslope Drive, Twentynine Palms. The neighborhood is residential, off the beaten path, and the bed and breakfast was never opened. The victim is currently living in a mobile home park in San Bernardino County. The victim’s loss totals approximately $150,000, which was her life’s savings. The Humphreys are being held on $350,000 bail.
I don’t understand how people would be sick enough to prey on elderly people like that and rob them of everything they have.
Posted by on 08/30 at 05:07 AM
Dear Ms. Dollar:
My name is Victor Murillo. I am writting on behalf of this senior couples who had been robbed by their own son. Although they have gone to numerous attorneys, more than dozens offices, icluding government agency like legal aide foundation, Layola Law School (free legal advise dept), no ones is willingly to help her. In 2003 Mrs. Suthiprasert was about to retired from nursing. She has brought and lived in her home for over 20 yrs. Hard earned money was putting into house payment hoping to have a security nest to live when she retired. At that time she owes $80K to the bank. Her house has a market value at approximately $200K. One day her son encourage her to get a refinance by pointing out the benefit of getting lower interest rates, plus a lower payment. She aggreed to follow his advise, and he took her to obtain a equity line of credit loan through Bank of the West in the amount of $80K to pay off the old loan. Later on he manage to contact the bank withouth her knowledge and raised the loan to $200K and took $120K for his own spending. In addition, he also use her identity to apply for other three equity line of credit from Washington Mutual, ELoans, ING Direct totalling to amount of approximately $600K. He continues making payments and kept statements out of this senior lady’s site so she would not be aware of such loans. In addition, he also request statement sent to other address or request an electronic statement to avoid having statement be sent out to this senior lady’s address. In late 2005, he stopped making payments. And that when all kind of litigation started. How he defraud his own mother is by having her signed numerous loan documents. By stating to her that her credit was qualified for the the previous loan and that bank must sell her loan to another banks. Using tricks and lies he manage to make her belive what he was saying were true. Today she is in final stage of loosing her homes. Many attorneys charged her advise or consultation fees but show no promosing sign to recue her. She filed for bankruptcy from getting an impression that it would help solve the problem, because people lied to her. Is there’s a way this poor senior lady could be rescue at all? In addition, he also took her pension saving she been collecting all her life and spent it in the amount of $80K. This poor senior c0uple has no one to turn to for help. Their English is also a big barrier issue as well. They are about to get evicted. We all felt so sorry for them and it’s why we are writting to you on these poor senior couples. Thanks for your time and conisderation.
Sincerely,
Victor Muriilo
8730 Steart and Gray Rd
Downey, CA 90241
Tel 562-303-7600
Posted by on 12/11 at 01:24 AM
Dear Ms. Rachel Dollar:
Do you have suggestions regarding the post Elder Abuse from:
Posted by CHITRAPORN SUTHIPRASERT on 12/11 at 01:24 AM.
I’d like to know because this also happened to a very kind two elderly couple.
Thanks.
Posted by on 03/12 at 10:00 AM
People prey on the elderly because they are easy victims. Sort of like preying on children, just at the opposite spectrum. It’s sad either way and a crime.
Posted by on 08/22 at 06:01 PM
My mom was the victim of elder abuse. A long time student’s parent promised to give her a loan if she would just put four acres of her farm in her name for a short time so she would be able to give her the loan to build dance studio. Her husband Shane Coleman, in return would build my mom a Dance Studio on her Commercial piece of property in Robertsdale, AL. My 75 year old dad was put in the hospital for several weeks due to an injury with his ankle. It was broke in three places. Hours after my dad was released fron the hospital,Tammi Coleman scheduled a meeting for them to go over and sign the legal paper work to finalize the loan she had promised mom if mom would sign over four acres of her land to her and ,Shane Coleman, her husband at the time so that she would be able to get her the loan she couldnt get due to past financial problems.Tammie nor her husband ever showed up at the lawyers office in Mobile,AL where mom and dad signed papers that wasn’t what they had discussed. My dad was straight out of hospital and couldn’t walk for several months later. Tammi never showed up and of course she called to tell m,y mom to go ahead and sighn the papers that everything was all set she got tied up and wouldnt be able to make it. She assured my mom and dad everything wasn okay just to sign papers so she could get the loan money to her right away. Days later, I saw an ad for four 1/2 acre lots for sale on couny rd 71. That was my moms four acres she was told would only be used as collateral for her to get loan with. Some how she also put the commercial piece of property in her name.This property was where she had agreed her husband would build dance studio for my mom. Soon everything my mom worked her whole life for was sliping away with nothing she could do due to her financal problems. We saw several lawyers but couldnt afford them. Tammie Coleman also told mom to stop paying rent at studio we were teaching at due to roof leakage. She said after she got mom the loan she would take care of all her past due bills. There are several others that were involved in sellingb moms property. The lawyer wher paper work was drawn up will also testify on moms behalf. She has since moved many many times. She purchased lots of expensive real estate, remarried a man twice her age as well as is sold me a car I was only supposed to use until mine was fixed. I am yet to recieve a title to car and resently found out the vin numbers on bill of sale didnt match original paper work. Please can anyone help, my parents are old and I am trying to take care of them, but cannot seem to afford the legal help I need. My name is Wendy Smith and addree is 19933 co rd 62 Robertsdale, Al. Phone # 251-747-5848
Failed Mortgage Firm Trustee Allowed $50,000 in Fees Union Leader
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge J. Michael Deasy will approve $50,000 in legal fees for the trustee of failed mortgage brokerage businesses Financial Resources Mortgage Inc. and CL&M Inc.
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Shelbyville Man Gets 2-Year Sentence For Loan Fraud Chattanoogan.Com
Prosecutor Gary Humble said the lost was approximately $2.3 million in the mortgage fraud involving hundreds of homes in the Shelbyville area.
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Utah Division of Consumer Protection is joining forces with a few investors who claim they have been cheated by an agency called "Utah Mini Ranches.
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Citing concerns about increased mortgage fraud, four organizations representing more than 35,000 real estate appraisers today voiced their opposition to changes to an Obama administration program that will encourage "short sales" of homes.
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State lawmakers may beef up protections of property owners' rights by rewriting a law this spring that is at the center of a case of alleged fraud in Pasco County.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Continued Testimony
As reported by Anne Mitchell, who viewed the trial:
Angela Parenza worked for Jeff Miller as the office manager for 7 or 8 years beginning in 1998. Parenza was indicted along with Miller and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Parenza testified that Miller or his contractors allegedly preferred to build all the...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage Continued - Witness Testimony
Steve Middleton Testimony - Coverage Provided by Anne Mitchell
The Government continued in its cross examination of Steve Middleton. He was shown several HUD-1 statements involving sales of homes located in Overland Park, KS, and Olathe, KS. The HUD statements each allegedly showed line items of payments to (James) Moser & Associates, LLC's...
Monday, February 01, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage - Continued Witness Examination
According to Anne Mitchell, who is present in court for the trial:
Next Witness: Kelly Sanford
Kelly Sanford of the Federal Reserve was a short witness for the Government. Sanford manages electronic payments between banks and member financial institutions. He was shown copies of wire transfers and asked whether they coincided with the counts in...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial - Prosecution Witnesses Continued
According to Anne Mitchell, who is viewing the trial:
January 13, 2010
Witness: Rick Hayes
Rick Hayes testified that on the day that he closed on his Miller Enterprise home, he received a phone call from the Kansas Banking Commission informing him that his loan was fraudulent. After the Hayes responded to a classified ad, they met with John...
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The information and notices contained on Mortgage Fraud Blog are intended to summarize recent developments in mortgage fraud cases and mortgage banking matters nationwide. The posts on this site are presented as general research and information and are expressly not intended, and should not be regarded, as legal advice. Much of the information on this site concerns allegations made in civil lawsuits and in criminal indictments. All persons are presumed innocent until convicted of a crime. Readers who have particular questions about mortgage banking, mortgage fraud matters or who believe they require legal counsel should seek the advice of an attorney. The creators, editors and sponsors of Mortgage Fraud Blog do not intend to create a confidential relationship or an attorney-client relationship by communication via or arising from this site.
Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of 
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