AG - Schuette Announces Charges for Mid-Michigan Foreclosure-Rescue Fraud Page 1 of 2

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home and selling it back to them on land contract. The victim • Schuette Defends
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homeowners had been living in their home for 14 years until they Religious Freedoms on
experienced financial difficulties and the house went into default (pre- Campus
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foreclosure) in early 2005. They were contacted by U.S. mail with an Charges Former Highland
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investor, Nicole Otis, who would purchase their home and sell it back Alert on State, Federal
to them on land contract, claiming that within a year their credit would Foreclosure and Legal
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improve enough to accomplish that. Britton advised the homeowners Personnel
she would assist them with improving their credit, and Otis would sell • Michigan Prevails in Great
Lakes Ballast Water Battle
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Schuette's complaint alleges Britton drew up the land contract • Schuette Announces
Reinstatement of 2000 Cold
documents and set the closing for the sale of their property on May 19, Case Murder Charge
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the deal. In reality, as is typical in foreclosure-rescue scams, the Great Lakes from Ballast
Water Transfer of Invasive
victim homeowners were instructed to sign over part of their proceeds Species
from the sale to fund Otis' $20,000 down-payment. Schuette noted the • Public Integrity Unit
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was a fraudulent claim to the lender that violated state law. President With Accepting
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Although the homeowners made payments under the land Solicitor General

http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739-253477--,00.html 4/9/2011
AG - Schuette Announces Charges for Mid-Michigan Foreclosure-Rescue Fraud Page 2 of 2

contract, Otis had stopped making payments on the mortgage, and the
homeowners were still evicted from their house after Otis allowed it to
fall to foreclosure. The victims later filed a complaint with Lansing
Township police on May 1, 2007.

Britton and Otis are each charged with one count of False
Pretenses, a ten-year felony. Otis was arrested on Friday, March 25,
2011, and was released on the condition that she return for
arraignment. Britton is expected to turn herself in this week. Both
defendants will be arraigned in Lansing's 54-A District Court later this
week.

"I would like to thank the Lansing Township Police Department

for their hard work and assistance in uncovering this fraud," said
Schuette.

Schuette encourages homeowners facing foreclosure to review

information on how to avoid foreclosure on his website at
www.michigan.gov/avoidforeclosure. Consumer complaints regarding
foreclosure may be filed online with the Attorney General's Office at
www.michigan.gov/ag by clicking "File a Complaint." Concerned
homeowners can also call the Michigan State Housing and
Development Authority foreclosure hotline, 1-866-946-7432, to be
connected with a free foreclosure prevention counselor in their area.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is

presumed innocent until proven guilty.

-30-

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http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-34739-253477--,00.html 4/9/2011