Special Forces Iraq Vet Returns Home To Find Delinquent Mortgage On His Free & Clear House; Friend Accused Of Using POA To Drain Equity From Property

In Mount Clemens, Michigan, C & G Newspapers reports:

• When Kevin Robertson, a sergeant with the Army’s Special Forces, returned from this third tour of duty in Iraq in May 2007, he was astounded to find that many of his financial dealings were out of whack. “He started to realize that something was really wrong. He didn’t know what had transacted,” said Elizabeth Geary, Robertson’s friend for at least 10 years.

• Robertson discovered that a loan totaling $135,000 had been taken out on his home in Mount Clemens. The home was also going into foreclosure. Moreover, another home had been purchased in Robertson’s name in Florida for $340,000. “He went to Iraq and that’s one big nightmare over there, and he comes home and it’s a worse nightmare,” said Geary.

• How did it all happen? According to Geary, one day before Robertson was deployed in November 2006, he gave power of attorney to a friend, Mark Powell, whom he had met at a gym several years ago in Sarasota, Fla. “He had been convinced by a friend of his over in Sarasota to turn over his power of attorney,” said Geary, adding, “Kevin reluctantly did this and when Kevin came home … this man he took out two loans on this house.” Geary lives in the house on Smith Street that Robertson owns and that Powell took the two loans out on. She said Robertson, who lives in Sarasota because that’s where the Special Forces train, had obtained the Mount Clemens home from his father, who had paid cash for the property and owed no money on it. She added that the Florida home, which Powell bought for $340,000, now appraises for $160,000. Geary said that Robertson gave Powell no such permission to take out either loan or purchase a home.

For the story, see Locals come together to help out soldier who was scammed. DeedContraTheft