Judge Hammers Mastermind In San Diego-Area Foreclosure Rescue Racket That Ran Land Grant & Sale Leaseback Scams On 400-500 Victims w/ 46 Years In Pen

In San Diego, California, The San Diego Union Tribune reports:

• A man prosecutors described as the ring leader of a real estate fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of San Diego County residents out of more than $2 million was sentenced Friday to 46 years in prison. A jury found William Jeffrey Hutchings, 63, guilty in March of 160 felony counts including conspiracy, grand theft, rent skimming and violations of the mortgage foreclosure consultant law.

• Prosecutors argued that Hutchings and other defendants convinced 400-500 victims, most of them Hispanic homeowners from San Diego and other counties, that he could keep them from losing their homes to foreclosure. The criminal enterprise lasted 21 months.(1)

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• Deputy District Attorneys Stephen Robinson and William La Fond contended during the two-month trial that Hutchings and others led the victims to believe they could save their homes through his so-called land-grant program. They could either pay a one-time fee of $10,000 to put their property in a land grant or they could transfer their property to the defendants and rent it back through monthly payments.

For the story, see Foreclosure scam's mastermind gets 46 years in prison.

(1) Eight of the 10 co-defendants have been convicted of criminal charges, prosecutors said, and two are scheduled to go to trial Monday, the story states.