Agents for the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program arrested four Florida men for allegedly defrauding homeowners by falsely promising mortgage modifications.
The Department of Justice leveled 20 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and the misuse of a government seal to Christopher Godfrey, Dennis Fischer, Vernell Burris and Brian Kelly.
According to the indictment, Godfrey and Fischer ran Home Owners Protection Economics, which used telemarketers trained by Burris and Kelly to allegedly ensnare homeowners into paying the company an upfront fee of between $400 and $900. In exchange, HOPE allegedly gave a false guarantee of a Home Affordable Modification Program workout.
Most of the homeowners targeted resided in Massachusetts.
HOPE telemarketers allegedly told homeowners they were affiliated with the mortgage lender and even instructed homeowners to stop making monthly payments. According to the indictment, HOPE allegedly claimed it was a nonprofit.
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