Owner Of Mortgage Elimination Company Found Guilty In White Plains Federal Court Of $38 Million

Owner Of Mortgage Elimination Company Found Guilty In White Plains Federal Court Of $38 Million Fraud Conspiracy


Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JACQUELINE GRAHAM was convicted at trial on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, of participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud in connection with a fraudulent debt-elimination scheme to defraud homeowners and banks. GRAHAM was found guilty of the one count she faced after a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Jacqueline Graham preyed on vulnerable homeowners who could not afford their mortgage payments during a time of crisis in the housing market. Because of her greed, these homeowners ended up financially worse off than when they found her. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who victimize the vulnerable.”

According to the Indictment in the case and the evidence presented at trial:

From at least 2011 to at least 2012, JACQUELINE GRAHAM partnered with Bruce Lewis and John Ruzza in operating the Valhalla, New York-based Terra Foundation (“Terra”) – which was originally known as the Pillow Foundation – which held itself out as a business that would investigate and eliminate mortgage loans in exchange for fees, soliciting clients who were having difficulties making their mortgage payments. In fact, however, Terra engaged in a wide-ranging scheme to defraud clients, county clerks’ offices, and banks.

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/owner-mortgage-elimination-company-found-guilty-white-plains-federal-court-38-million