2006-04-11 08:15

I’m headed back to court this morning to assist with the Edwards’ case. We’re hopeful that by the end of this week, the Edwards’ matter will be cleared up entirely, allowing Brenda and Terry to continue to live in the house they’ve called home for the last 32 years (click here for a recent news story about the Edwards’ and today’s hearing). In the meantime, I think it’s worth mentioning another local real estate fraud-related case I’m consulting on… this one involving an elderly couple from my part of the state who were tricked by fraudsters into giving up four of their income-generating properties.

Back on the 1st of March of 2005, after running into significant financial difficulties, 82-year-old Claude Seay and his 79-year-old wife Rosalie decided it was time to refinance four of their rental properties. According to documents field with the Circuit Court for the County of Oakland (Michigan), Rosalie Seay called Oak Park, Michigan-based Modern Mortgage Corporation, where she was referred to mortgage broker Max Garza. Shortly after Rosalie’s initial telephone conversation with Garza, Garza and co-conspirator Todd McNeil came to the Seay’s home, and through deceit, material misrepresentations and trickery, convinced Claude and Rosalie to sign a blank ‘quit claim‘ deed.

The Seay’s, of course, never intended to give up their properties, and as you might have guessed by now, only received $3,500.00 from Garza/Modern Mortgage Corp./McNeil for what they believed were the proceeds from the refinancing. Unbeknownst to Claude and Rosalie, Todd McNeil re-mortgaged their properties for around $125,000.00 cash, which was obtained by fraudulent means and without any consideration whatsoever for Claude and Rosalie.

My role in the Seay’s case is similar to my role in the Edwards’ case. I’ve been researching and untangling real estate fraud-related matters for years, and in this case, I’m helping the Seay’s attorney understand the intricacies of the fraud that has been committed against Claude and Rosalie Seay.

Check back soon for updates on both the Edwards’ and Seay’s cases.