Jan 22, 2009 10:43 pm US/Eastern
I-Team: Mortgage Scheme Victims Try To Save Homes
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Katie Skeens got her home back, but now her mortgage has more than doubled.
WBZ
WBZ's I-Team tracked down the man who many say stole their homes all in the name of god. An I-Team investigation this past summer exposed a foreclosure rescue scheme where the victims say a man named John Seigler prayed with them and then ripped them off.
I-Team reporter Kathy Curran tracked down the man behind the deals, and as a result, one woman got back her home.
Seigler is a convicted felon turned self-proclaimed foreclosure rescue man and man of the lord.
But the I-Team investigation found Seigler working with Marie Magny, promising to help people struggling to pay their mortgages save their homes all in the name of god.
The I-Team caught up with Seigler when a judge ordered him to court for his alleged role in this foreclosure rescue scheme.
"You say you're doing god's work. You're not doing god's work, you stole their homes," Curran said.
"I've never done that but god is good, and all the truth will soon be told hopefully," Seigler said.
"He really is a con man," said attorney Paul Hogan.
Seigler is the former director and treasurer of Blue Hills Investors and former head of Richfield Loan Finders. Both businesses were based out of a storefront in Mattapan.
Katie Skeens and Youlaine Edouard say Seigler and Magny conned them into signing their deeds over to them and led them down a dead-end headed to foreclosure, taking their homes along the way.
The Blue Hills office is still occupied but after the I-Team's investigation the company name was removed, the phone disconnected and Magny has had a change of heart.
Magny signed the deed for 44 Corbet Street back over to Skeens. The good news is Skeens gets her house back, but it came at a very high price -- her mortgage almost doubled.
"It's more expensive, but she's got her house back," Skeens' lawyer Paul Hogan.
Hogan has filed a civil suit against Seigler, Magny, the banks and mortgage company involved. He says Skeens' mortgage went from $118,180 to $248,784.
"I think he hurt two sets of people," Hogan said. "The investors he conned into getting into these deals and the homeowners that came to get help and instead of getting help they lost their homes."
For Skeens and Edourd it's been a long journey battling to save their homes. According to the attorney general's office they're not alone. Three other complaints against Seigler were filed since 2007.
In the complaint, the homeowner says Seigler and Magny prayed with them. They paid $875 and didn't get any help. He says 200 other people did the exact same thing.
"Do you think anything will stop him from doing this?" Curran asked Hogan.
"I don't think he won't stop until someone stops him," Hogan said.
"I've never taken homes but god bless you all," Seigler said. "The truth will be revealed. Thank you, Kathy."
Magny's lawyer said she's no longer working with Seigler or Blue Hills investors group and has paid back $35,000 to one victim so far.
According to a flier, which has the word foreclosure misspelled in big bold letters, seminars are still being held at the Mattapan office under a different company name.
The I-Team has notified the attorney general's office, the Boston police and the FBI about what they found.
At this point no agency will confirm or deny an investigation.
If you think you're the victim of a foreclosure scheme there are resources to help:
Contact the Attorney General's Consumer Hotline at 617-727-8400.
Contact the FBI at 617-742-5533.
Or contact
Boston police in your local district.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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