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Subscribe to RSSA notary public who signed tens of thousands of false documents in a massive foreclosure scam before blowing the whistle on the scandal has been found dead in her Las Vegas home.
NBC station KSNV of Las Vegas reported that the woman, Tracy Lawrence, 43, was scheduled to be sentenced Monday morning after she pleaded guilty this month to notarizing the signature of an individual not in her presence. She failed to show up for her hearing, and police found her body at her home later in the day.
It could not immediately be determined whether Lawrence, who faced up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000, died of suicide or of natural causes, KSNV reported. Detectives said they had ruled out homicide.
Lawrence came forward earlier this month and blew the whistle on the operation, in which title officers Gary Trafford, 49, of Irvine, Calif., and Geraldine Sheppard, 62, of Santa Ana, Calif. — who worked for a Florida processing company used by most major banks to process repossessions — allegedly forged signatures on tens of thousands of default notices from 2005 to 2008.
Trafford and Sheppard were charged two weeks ago with 606 counts of offering false instruments for recording, false certification on certain instruments and notarization of the signature of a person not in the presence of a notary public. You can read a .pdf version of their indictment here.
Police said at the time that the alleged scam had thrown into question the legality of most Las Vegas home foreclosures in the past few years, leaving many people living in foreclosed-upon homes that they unknowingly don't actually own.
"I would suggest you review your documents and bring them to an expert and an attorney," said John Kelleher, chief deputy attorney general for Nevada's fraud unit.
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I don't want to see anyone dead over this type of crime. That being said, This crime NEVER should have taken place to help kick people out of their homes. A default is one thing, FRAUD is another. www.johnmschwarzlaw.com Foreclosure Defense - Short Sales
Years ago, I worked as a credit clerk processing the paper work for the car loans made at our bank. I notarized hundreds of documents that were not signed in front of me. I was told that is the way we do it and it was an expectation of the job I held. It was supposedly no big deal. The one time I refused to notarize some car title papers (the signee had a local reputation of being a bit shady), it was made clear to me that my refusal was not acceptable and my boss and the loan officer (who was also a notary) who actually saw the papers signed and wound up notarizing them both expressed their "disapproval." It was pretty clear that I shouldn't ever do that again. I wonder if this woman was in the same boat I was (I really needed the job and couldn't risk getting fired so did what I was told), or if she was a willing participant up until she realized the damage that was being caused. Still very sad no matter how you slice it.
Well said Lockridge!! I wish you were my neighbor. I would have someone intelligent to talk to. Happy Holidays to us all!!
Sad. She was a scapegoat.
Banks are just like the IRS. If they don't get their money on time, they can make your life miserable with no recourse. Yes' it's YOUR money, but will they ever SHOW it to you? Not on your life.
Old scenario and first cousins to Freddie and Fannie only there is no evidence, yet, suggesting she made millions, perhaps tens of millions on bonuses for being a failure at tax payer expense.
... died of susicide or ...
SPELLCHECK!
There's your suspects right there. Better get some new detectives on the case that recognize a criminally motivated murder when they see one.
I came to this article to see if this 'whistleblower', did testify, was 'going' to testify, in Washington about this practice! I am trying to figure out whether Ron Paul is involved in any way with bringing this whistleblower in to testify, and if so, maybe there is a kill order for him, by O'bama..not sure about this...yet! Time will tell!
But WAIT! There's MORE: www DOT eutimes DOT net/2011/11/obama-issues-ron-paul-kill-order-as-russia-prepares-for-war/
This was happening far earlier than 2005. I lost my home because no one knew who owned the mortgage. I was paying money to one bank and another forclosed on my home. I didn't have the money to hire a real lawyer.
Link to indictment in article is broken, try this link to the indictment instead.
Hey, my link vanished! Imagine that!
Here it is again! ag(dot)state(dot)nv(dot)us(slash)newsroom(slash)press(slash)2011(slash)Indictment(dot)pdf
Yeah this is a sad commentary :(
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Foreclosure Fraud :
I agree with everyones comments and i totally agree with the way the middle class is being fleeced. hopefully the government will change the laws to help the people who have done nothing wrong and put into situation by agents for bonuses from their home lenders for liars loans. watch the keiser report.