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Pocono News Section
Foreclosure Scam Artist
Foreclosure Scam Artist - Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 2:37PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 @ 02:37pm EST
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A woman who ripped off people who were desperate to save their homes will spend time behind bars for her crimes. A Monroe County judge sentenced Shirley Matthews to spend two to five years in state prison.
Matthews told desperate home owners she could help them avoid foreclosure by renegotiating mortgages. Instead, she took their money and ran. A jury convicted her in July. Assistant District Attorney Mark Matthews said, "She's done this in the past. It's a pattern with her. She takes advantage of the people who are falling behind on their mortgages."
Matthews ripped off Dennis Cardiche of Marshalls Creek. He said Matthews promised to help him work things out with his mortgage company. He gave her more than $8,000 which she kept for herself. Cardiche said, "As far as I'm concerned she has no compassion. She's a predator."
But her Attorney Robert Saurman told Eyewitness News that's not true. He said Matthews did help the man renegotiate. He said, "A man is living in a house that he would not have otherwise be in because of what she did." He added the only thing Matthews did wrong was keep a little more money than she was supposed to. He said, "In the end she kept money that she wasn't entitled to and she's paying the price for that."
The Assistant District Attorney hopes her sentence sends a message to other scammers. Matthews faces similar charges in Wyoming County. Her lawyer told Eyewitness News she will likely work out a plea deal. | | |
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