Statement from Governor Martin O'Malley on Today's Foreclosure Fraud Inndictments
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 12, 2008) – Today, Governor Martin O’Malley issued the following statement in recognition of today’s sweeping indictments announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“I want to applaud U.S Attorney Rod Rosenstein and his staff, as well as the financial regulation investigators at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, for their hard work in securing the indictment of eight individuals who defrauded at least 100 vulnerable homeowners out of millions of dollars in equity. Today’s indictment illustrates that by working together with the federal government, we can bring to justice those who exploit Maryland homeowners, and we can do more to preserve homeownership in Maryland.
“Together with the General Assembly, we enacted a comprehensive package of sweeping reforms to better regulate the mortgage industry and protect homeowners, including two bills aimed at cracking down on fraud and banning foreclosure rescue scams like the ones we are now prosecuting. Those new laws, along with the indictments handed down today, should send a strong message that Maryland will leave no stone unturned and will not tolerate the actions of those who defraud our homeowners, take advantage of our families and weaken our communities.”
