Sued Countrywide For Predatory Lending And Deceptive Mortgage Practices. Attorney General Brown sued Countrywide Financial, its chief executive Angelo Mozilo, and president David Sambol, for “engaging in deceptive advertising and unfair competition by pushing homeowners into mass produced, risky loans for the sole purpose of reselling the mortgages on the secondary market. (“Brown Sues Countrywide For Mortgage Deception,” Press Release, 6/25/08)

• Disclosed Additional Evidence Of Mortgage Deception. Attorney General Brown disclosed “shocking new details about Countrywide Financial’s deceptive business practices which included ignoring their own underwriting guidelines and rewarding employees for selling risky home loans. (“Atty. Gen. Brown Discloses New Evidence Of Countrywide's Deceptive Practices,” Press Release, 7/17/08)

• Announced Landmark $8.68 Billion Settlement. Attorney General Brown announced a landmark, multi-state settlement with Countrywide Home Loans, Countrywide Financial Corporation and Full Spectrum Lending that “is expected to provide up to $8.68 billion of home loan and foreclosure relief nationally, including $3.5 billion to California borrowers. (“Attorney General Brown Announces Landmark $8.68 Billion Settlement with Countrywide,” Press Release, 10/06/08)

Shuts Down Fraudulent Foreclosure Relief Companies and Recovers Cash for Scammed Homeowners. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. shut down two fraudulent foreclosure-assistance companies and secured a court judgment that prohibits three individuals from working in the real estate industry and provides more than $1 million in restitution for victims left with "false hope" after paying upfront fees for nonexistent loan-modification services. ("Brown Shuts Down Fraudulent Foreclosure Relief Companies and Recovers Cash for Scammed Homeowners," Press Release 3/22/2010)

Warns Homeowners to Avoid Forensic Loan Audits. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) and the State Bar of California in warning Californians to avoid forensic loan audits, the loan-modification industry's latest "phony foreclosure-relief service," in which homeowners pay up-front fees for a forensic review of their lender's practices, but are provided no actual foreclosure relief. ("Brown Warns Homeowners to Avoid Forensic Loan Audits," Press Release 2/22/2010)

Calls on Banks and Loan Servicers to Detail Plans to Stem New Wave of Foreclosures. Concerned about a "new wave" of foreclosures, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. called on ten major banks and loan servicers to detail their plans to assist homeowners facing dramatic monthly payment increases on Pay Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages. ("Brown Calls on Banks and Loan Servicers to Detail Plans to Stem New Wave of Foreclosures," Press Release 10/29/2009)

Alerts Homeowners that New Law Prohibits Up-front Fees for Foreclosure Relief Services. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued a consumer alert warning California homeowners to avoid individuals and businesses that charge up up-front fees for foreclosure relief services in light of a just-enacted state law that makes this "abusive practice" subject to prosecution. ("Brown Alerts Homeowners that New Law Prohibits Up-front Fees for Foreclosure Relief Services," Press Release 10/15/2009)

Investigation into Credit Rating Agencies' Role in Fueling Financial Crisis. Launching an investigation into credit rating agencies' role in fueling the financial crisis, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued subpoenas to Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch to determine whether the firms violated California law when they recklessly gave "stellar ratings to shaky assets." ("Brown Launches Investigation into Credit Rating Agencies' Role in Fueling Financial Crisis," Press Release, 9/17/2009)

Arrests Three Mortgage Brokers for Stealing Nearly $1 Million. Continuing his fight against mortgage scams, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from his office have arrested Michael McConville, and two of his associates for their roles in a "criminal conspiracy" to steal nearly $1 million from borrowers seeking to refinance their homes. ("Brown Arrests Three Mortgage Brokers for Stealing Nearly $1 Million from Borrowers," Press Release 9/10/2009)

Exposes Inner Workings of Loan Modification Boiler Room. Responding to a report that exposes the inner workings of a loan modification boiler room, Brown warned homeowners to avoid "shadowy and unscrupulous" loan modification consultants who use aggressive telemarketing tactics and charge thousands of dollars in upfront fees for foreclosure relief. ("Brown Exposes Inner Workings of Loan Modification Boiler Room," Press Release, 7/23/2009)

Sues 21 Individuals and 14 Companies Who Ripped Off Homeowners. As part of a massive federal-state crackdown on loan modification scams, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr.  announced the filing of legal action against 21 individuals and 14 companies who ripped off thousands of homeowners desperately seeking mortgage relief. ("Brown Sues 21 Individuals and 14 Companies Who Ripped Off Homeowners Desperate for Mortgage Relief," Press Release 7/15/09)

Sues Foreclosure Consultant and Attorney Who Conned Homeowners. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. sued a foreclosure consultant and an attorney -- Paul Noe Jr. and Mitchell Roth - who conned 2,000 desperate homeowners into paying exorbitant fees for "phony lawsuits" to forestall foreclosure proceedings. ("Brown Sues Foreclosure Consultant and Attorney Who Conned Homeowners into Paying Thousands for Phony Lawsuits," Press Release, 7/6/2009)

Directs Foreclosure Consultants to Register with his Office. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued a directive forcing foreclosure consultants to register with his office and post a $100,000 bond by July 1, 2009. ("Brown Directs Foreclosure Consultants to Register with his Office and Post $100,000 Bond" Press Release, 6/1/09)

• Orders Mortgage Foreclosure Consultants to Post $100,000 Bond or Face Prosecution. Threatening possible criminal and civil prosecution, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today ordered 386 mortgage foreclosure consultants to post $100,000 bonds and register with his office. ("Brown Orders Mortgage Foreclosure Consultants to Post $100,000 Bond or Face Prosecution," Press Release 8/12/2009)

Criminal Charges Against Three Individuals Who Operated $200 Million Ponzi Scheme. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. last night filed 79 criminal charges against three men who "callously swindled" thousands of individuals, including many retirees who lost their life savings, in a $200 million Ponzi scheme. ("Brown Files Criminal Charges Against Three Individuals Who Operated $200 Million Ponzi Scheme" Press Release, 5/22/09)

Sues to Block Property Tax Rip-Off.  Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today filed suit against two brothers who "ripped off homeowners" seeking help in reducing their property tax assessments. ("Brown Sues to Block Property Tax Rip-Off" Press Release, 5/12/09)

Sends Mastermind of $20 Million Real Estate Scheme to Prison. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that the man behind an "elaborate real estate scam," Thomas Hastert, pled guilty today to 59 felony counts of embezzlement, securities fraud, and selling unregistered securities. ("Brown Sends Mastermind of $20 Million Real Estate Scheme to Prison" Press Release, 5/7/09)

Stopped Massive Statewide Home Repair Scheme.  Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) have finalized an agreement that will stop a massive service and repair scheme that unfairly overcharged thousands of Californians for "shoddy and woefully inadequate" home repair work. ("Brown and Contractors State License Board Stop Massive Statewide Home Repair Scheme" Press Release, 3/23/09)

Announced Arrest Of Two Loan Modification Scam Artists. Attorney General Brown announced the arrest of two scam artists -- Mary Alice Yraceburu and Marianne Curtis – who "coldly and heartlessly" conned over one hundred and sixty victims out of thousands of dollars for non-existent loan modification services. (“Brown Announces Arrest of Two Scam Artists Who Committed Loan Modification Fraud,” Press Release, 3/19/09)

•Guilty Plea from Woman Who Operated Sophisticated Loan Scam. Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. late Thursday won a guilty plea from 22-year old Anna Santos, who conned thousands of dollars from homeowners in a "cruel and sophisticated" loan scam. ("Brown Obtains Guilty Plea from Woman Who Operated Sophisticated Loan Scam" Press Release, 5/1/09)

Forced Sub-Prime Auto Lender To Stop Harassing And Intimidating Borrowers. Attorney General Brown forced Lobel Financial, a sub-prime auto lender, to stop its “illegal campaign of harassment and intimidation” against borrowers behind in their bills…” An investigation completed by the Attorney General's Office found that Lobel frequently violated California's Fair Debt Collection Act by calling its customers repeatedly and allowing the phone to ring continuously; calling a customer's employer and family members; and using a false name when calling. (“Brown Forces Sub-Prime Auto Lender to Stop Harassing and Intimidating Borrowers,” Press Release, 3/10/09)

Broke Up Southern California Foreclosure Scam Ring That Preyed On Hundreds Of Desperate Homeowners. Attorney General Brown announced the arrests of three members of a fraud ring who preyed on desperate Southern California homeowners by falsely promising to renegotiate their home loans, but instead “ripped them off for thousands of dollars” while their homes fell into foreclosure. (“Attorney General Brown Breaks Up Foreclosure Scam Ring,” Press Release, 11/3/08)

• Announced Lengthy Prison Sentences For The Scam Artists. Attorney General Brown announced that three individuals have pled guilty to loan modification fraud against hundreds of “desperate California homeowners” and were sentenced to as much as 6 years of prison. (“Attorney General Brown Sends Perpetrators of Loan Modification Fraud to Prison,” Press Release, 3/09/09)

Secured Restitution For Victims Of Sacramento, San Joaquin Renter Rip-Off. Attorney General Brown announced a $150,000 settlement for aspiring homeowners who had their entire down payments unlawfully seized by Lease2OwnHomes. (“Brown Obtains Restitution For Lease2OwnHomes Renter Rip-Off,” Press Release, 7/18/08)

Ended Deceptive Southern California Foreclosure Rescue Scam. Attorney General Brown shut down a team of scam artists that acquired deeds to hundreds of homes in foreclosure by convincing desperate consumers to place their property in a “land grant,” a phony and worthless real estate document. (“Brown Announces Arrest of Foreclosure Rescue Scam Artists,” Press Release, 5/22/08)

Shut Down Six Predatory Lending Companies That Victimized Thousands Of Californians. Attorney General Brown shut down Lifetime Financial, Nations Mortgage, Greenleaf Lending, Virtual Escrow, Olympic Escrow and Direct Credit Solutions, accusing the predatory lending companies of pushing homeowners into “illegal and unconscionable loans. (“Attorney General Brown Shuts Down Mortgage Scam Artists,” Press Release, 3/18/08)

Won Restitution For Thousands Of Victims Of Improper Ameriquest Home Loans. Attorney General Brown mailed restitution claim forms to approximately 78,000 customers who were "targets of improper sales practice" after joining a national $325 million lawsuit settlement with Ameriquest. The settlement provides $51 million for eligible California customers of Ameriquest Mortgage Company, Town and County Credit Corporation, and AMC Mortgage Services, Inc., formerly known as Bedford Home Loans. (“Brown Wins Restitution for Improper Home Loans,” Press Release, 7/12/07)

Filed Criminal Charges Against Mastermind Behind Elaborate $20 Million Real Estate Fraud Scheme. Attorney General Brown and Nevada County District Attorney Cliff Newell announced that criminal charges were filed against a hard-money real estate broker who “brazenly deceived investors and borrowers, embezzled fees, and filed false paperwork. (“Brown Files Criminal Charges Against Broker who Masterminded Elaborate Real Estate Scheme,” Press Release, 2/20/09)

• Announced Arrest Of Fugitive. Attorney General Brown and the Nevada County District Attorney announced that the man behind a $20 million “fraudulent real estate scheme,” Thomas Hastert, was taken into custody and arrested in Santa Cruz. (“Brown Announces Arrest of Fugitive who Masterminded $20 Million Real Estate Fraud Scheme,” Press Release, 2/27/09)

Filed Criminal Charges Against Those Behind $52 Million Real Estate Investment Scam. Attorney General Brown filed 89 criminal charges against 6 men who “callously conned” more than a thousand people, including retired senior citizens, out of $52 million through sham real estate projects, using the investors’ money to buy planes, expensive cars and lavish vacations. (“Attorney General Brown Files Criminal Charges in $52 Million Ponzi Scheme,” Press Release, 1/23/09)

Announced 24 Year Prison Sentence In $7 Million San Diego Mortgage Scam. Attorney General Brown announced that Theodore Swain, 60, was sentenced this morning to 24 years in state prison for running a $7 million Ponzi scheme that ripped off 100 investors in Southern California.(“Brown Announces 24 Year Sentence In $7 Million San Diego Mortgage Scam,” Press Release, 5/30/08)