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3 On Your Side: Mortgage Fraud Defendant Sentenced

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― A Mount Laurel, New Jersey man was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to stealing from homeowners who hired him to save their properties from foreclosure.

Peter Rogers was paid thousands of dollars by people that hoped he could help them save their homes. After collecting over $105,000 in all, he left the homeowners to fend for themselves.

The 65-year old Rogers appeared in a Burlington County court room Tuesday after pleading guilty to defrauding 77 people who hired him to help save their homes from foreclosure.

Victim after victim testified before Superior Court Judge John Almeida, telling how Rogers and his company, Express Consolidation Refinance and Mortgage Consultation, ripped them off.

Victims like Sherry Merlino lost her home after paying Rogers, who in return did nothing to help her.

"It feels good to know there is some kind of resolution to what has happened to me," Merlino told CBS 3.

After paying Rogers $1,500, Irene and Ken Harvey realized something was terribly wrong and sought help elsewhere.

Irene Harvey says, "I felt that we lucky enough to get out of it and start fresh and still have our house."

Rogers was sentenced to eight years in State prison, and will be eligible for parole in two years.

In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

"What we have here is somebody who knew he could get an easy buck," said Renee Borstad, Burlington County Consumer Affairs Director who warns homeowners to be careful so this won't happen to them. She says, "Don't be bamboozled, don't be conned, save your money!"

There are a number of groups out there that have a positive track record of helping folks with foreclosure and bankruptcy concerns, and they won't charge you large upfront fees.

Among them are the Philadelphia Unemployment Project and ACORN.


RELATED LINKS:

Philadelphia Unemployment Project
ACORN

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