Six individuals have been charged with violations of federal law in what the indictment alleges was a scheme to market and sell home loan modification services to distressed homeowners trying to save their homes from foreclosure following the financial crisis of 2008. Investigators believe the alleged scheme involved more than 10,000 victims in nearly every state in the country with losses of more than $33 million.
Archives For Utah
Michael Rene Berlon, 55, Grayson, Georgia, former attorney, has been arraigned on federal charges of mail and wire fraud in Utah for his role in defrauding clients in an advance fee loan scam.
Martin A. Pool, 44, Atlanta, Georgia, and Armand R. Franquelin, 57, Liberty, Utah, pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, Utah. The defendants admitted persuading investors to direct funds to their company, The Elva Group, in return for promissory notes with a promise of monthly interest payments at annual rates between 8 percent and 20 percent.
Michael S. Robinson, 42, a Utah resident, has paid restitution after pleading guilty to two second-degree felony counts of communications fraud and one second-degree felony count of pattern of unlawful activity in operating a foreclosure rescue scheme.
Edmund Edward Wilson, 69, St. George, Utah, was indicted and charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with what the indictment alleges was a real estate investment scheme he ran through his company, Fountain Group of Companies of Utah Inc.
Wayne Reed Ogden, 48, Koosharem, Utah, charged with wire and securities fraud in connection with a Ponzi scheme involving real estate, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.
Mauricio R. Munoz, 49, Sandy, Utah, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a construction fraud scheme involving five lots in the Promontory Point development located near Park City, Utah, will serve 41 months in federal prison.
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Victor John Sifton, 47, a Canadian citizen, was convicted by a federal jury of five counts of wire fraud stemming from a hard money lending scam perpetrated by Sifton and a co-conspirator, Jason Lawson, 45, a former Park City mortgage broker.
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Wayne L. Palmer and his firm, National Note of Utah, LC, West Jordan, Utah, have been issued a temporary restraining order and have had their asset frozen by The Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly operating a real estate-based Ponzi scheme that bilked $100 million from investors nationwide.
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David Shawn Moffitt, 34, the owner of a loan modification business with offices in Lehi and St. George, Utah, has been charged with 9 felony counts for allegedly defrauding hundreds of desperate homeowners.
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