Archives

April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 39-year-old contractor from Ham Lake pleaded guilty to participating in a mortgage fraud scheme. Andrew Paul Stoner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Stoner, who was charged on March 10, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery.

April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 49-year-old Champlin woman pleaded guilty to her role in a mortgage fraud scheme involving at least 200 properties—principally in north Minneapolis—and mortgage proceeds of approximately $35 million. Gayle Deann Claus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Claus, who was indicted on June 15, 2010, along with two co-defendants, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge David S. Doty.

Washington, DC - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Walz introduced legislation to protect servicemembers from abusive, illegal mortgage practices

March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, two brothers pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $4 million mortgage fraud scheme that defrauded 24 area lenders. Baretta Dean Bork, age 35, of Mound, and Xavier Willis Bork, age 32, of Eden Prairie, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud through the use of wires and income tax refund fraud. The pleas were entered before United States District Court Judge Ann. D. Montgomery. The defendants were charged on January 31, 2011

St. Paul, MN - March 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) urges Minnesotans to prepare their fuel oil, gasoline and other petroleum tanks for the flooding expected this spring. This will reduce damage that spilled petroleum products wreak on property and buildings as well as reduce damage to the environment, according to MPCA Emergency Responder Walt Haas.

February 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 46-year-old Cottage Grove man pleaded guilty to defrauding investors out of more than $5 million in a multi-state, house-flipping scheme. Appearing before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis, Robert W. Dufresne pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering in relation to his crime. He was charged on February 7, 2011.

January 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Every home in Minnesota should be tested every 2-5 years for radon gas, say state health officials. Testing a home is so important that, as a way to prevent exposure to radon, which can cause lung cancer, health officials are offering a limited number of low-cost test kits to Minnesota homeowners.

ST. PAUL, MN - December 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Pipeline Safety urges everyone to check gas meters on their homes and other buildings to be sure they stay free of ice and snow accumulation that can block the regulator vent.

ST. PAUL, MN - December 15, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security (OEs) today announced Minnesota will receive an additional $21.6 million in federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program (EAP). When added to the $64.8 million in federal funds already received by the state, this allocation brings the total for the current heating season to $86.4 million.

December 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two mortgage brokers and one real estate appraiser were indicted yesterday in federal court in St. Paul for allegedly orchestrating a mortgage fraud scheme in which they induced lenders to loan more than $1 million to purchasers to buy properties at inflated prices. The excess money was then shared among those involved in the scheme.

ST. PAUL, MN - December 8, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Contractors this week will begin inspecting the condition of decorative stonework along the roofline of the State Capitol building. As a safety measure, workers will install protective covering at building entrances and place barricades along several adjacent walkways.

November 29, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson today filed lawsuits against two out-of-state companies that charged Minnesota homeowners up to $3,500 in unlawful fees to help them renegotiate their home mortgages. In both cases, the companies used the threat of prevalent mortgage modification assistance scams to convince homeowners to pay money to their companies. In the midst of the ongoing housing crisis, the Attorney General warned citizens not to pay advance fees to firms for mortgage help

Saint Paul, MN - November 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies will increase an average of 2.6 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted later this year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today. This compares to last year’s 3.1 percent increase and an average change of 5.3 percent over the past three years

November 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The second of two Prior Lake men was sentenced earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis for his role in a scheme that defrauded mortgage lenders out of more than $2.5 million by causing them to make loans based on false information. United States District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced Christopher Glenn Kennedy, age 31, to 48 months in prison on one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection to that crime. On November 10, 2010, Judge Doty sentenced Beau Wesley Gensmer, age 29, to 36 months in prison on the same charges. Both men were indicted on April 21, 2010, and pleaded guilty in August of 2010. A third co-defendant has pleaded guilty in the case and awaits sentencing.

November 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today, the last two of five defendants connected to a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme appeared in federal court in Minneapolis to plead guilty to charges in connection to that crime.