A Weston, Fla.-based CPA has been sentenced to serve a year and a day in prison for his role in a fraudulent foreclosure rescue scheme that targeted homeowners on the brink of losing their homes.According to testimony, two of Coombs' accomplices, Lisa Wright and Cathy Saffer, operated Foreclosure Solution Specialists from 2006 to 2009. Wright was previously sentenced to 66 months in prison; Saffer drew 60 months. FSS advertised that it could assist homeowners in danger of foreclosure in remaining in their homes
FSS told distressed homeowners that their residences would be sold to investors and that they could remain in them and repurchase them later. Instead, the company sold the houses to straw purchasers who were paid to participate in the scheme.
Coombs was paid to write letters vouching for loan applications that contained false information. These letters were utilized by lenders in deciding to fund loans. The mortgage transactions completed by FSS took equity out of the homes, which the principals pocketed. The company then allowed the loans to go into foreclosure. Most victims, who had lost all equity in the houses, were forced to move.
