As the fallout from the financial crises continues, and the criminals that perpetrated fraudulent loans are brought to justice, some of us as agents may be pulled into the fray.
Approximately three years ago I represented a very nice women that had been manipulated into buying a home by her own boss, a mortgage company Vice President.
She had been convinced to allow him to use her credit in what he claimed would be a very profitable "flip". He explained the need to "use her credit" by claiming his was simply maxed-out from his vast real estate holdings involving other flips.
Within days of the closing for the property, her boss was carted off to prison by US Marshalls; it appeared that he was a fugitive. Once he was hauled off to prison in Nevada, and then California, she was left with a monthly mortgage of almost $5,000. As a loan processor, she made only about 24k a year. With her boss in prison, she also lost her job.
The victim asked for my assistance in the matter, and I listed & sold the home with the lenders cooperation as a Short Sale; I was able to get a majority of the loan paid off.
Then it got interesting: As some of you may recall, in May of 2008 I left on hiatus for Iraq to work with the US military, a decision I've been very pleased with.
Shortly after arriving in the Middle East, I was contacted by the King County Washington DA's office and asked to assist in the prosecution of a Mr. Julian Cauvin, who was in fact being charged for the theft of almost $90,000 at the closing of the "flipper property".
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Julian Cauvin Investigation
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From: |
Williamson, Linda (Linda.Williamson@kingcounty.gov) |
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Sent: |
Thu 7/03/08 4:53 PM |
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To: |
mwcreel@hotmail.com |
Dear Mr. Creel -
My name is Linda Williamson and I am a mortgage fraud investigator with the King County Prosecutor's Office in Seattle. We are conducting an investigation of Julian Cauvin and understand from another witness that you might have information that would be beneficial to our case.
I understand that you are working as a contactor in Iraq. Do you have access to a phone there so I could call you to ask you a few questions about Mr. Cauvin? If so, please provide a phone number and the best time and day to reach you. (Please include the time difference, as I am incredibly geographically challenged.)
Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Linda Williamson
Linda Williamson, Investigator
Complex Prosecutions and Investigations Division
King County Prosecutor's Office
500 Fourth Avenue, Suite 840
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 296-9073
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Mr. Cauvin had apparently not only left my client holding the note on the home, but had taken over $80,000 cash-back at closing (according to charging docs).
Over the last 10 months as this matter has progressed through the court system, the accused has launched an inconceivable slander campaign against me and other witnesses. He's created websites claiming I'm on run from the law and have fled the country to avoid prosecution for fabricated crimes.
He's even gone so far as to post warnings that anyone seeing me should contact the FBI because they're looking for me. He's claimed on his site that I'm a drug addict, a drug dealer, and that I frequent "gay bars".
Some of his claims are that I've "posed as a law abiding citizen for years" and that as an agent, I list homes to "case" them and later remove items from them, or vandalize them.
He has sent several emails to me indicated his goal is to destroy my real estate career and have my license pulled. Public records indicate he is mentally ill and is supposed to take medications to control his issues.
I know he has sent emails to various associates of mine, including those in the Middle East, making the same type of outrageous claims.
Anyone that knows me knows such claims are absurd.
I've worked for several years with the fine people at Brio Realty and Active Rain on a daily basis, and I'm confident my reputation with them will remain intact. None of my clients have ever expressed dissatisfaction with my services.
However, most AR members only know me through my blog, and I wouldn't want them to be mislead into believing I'm something I am not by a posting on a blog, or an unsolicited email they may receive.
As a result of his claims, I've undergone a second and more extensive background check to continue my work with the military, and as a result of the investigation his claims were confirmed as false (or believe me, I wouldn't still be here).
As part of that investigation, the Seattle DA sent out this email:
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From: Seaver, David
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 8:20 AM
Subject: Michael Creel
To whom it may concern:
I am writing in response to an e-mail I recently received from Michael Creel concerning an assertion made against him to XXXXXX. I have reason to believe that the assertion was made by an individual I am currently prosecuting for felony theft named Julian Cauvin.
The charges against Cauvin are proceeding in King County Superior Court, in Seattle, Washington. Cauvin has demonstrated a pattern of attempting to harass witnesses that the State intends to call against him and I believe that he may be behind the latest effort involving Mr. Creel.
Mr. Creel is not under investigation by the Bellevue, Washington, police department. That agency received a complaint from Cauvin, and determined it to be baseless.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly any time at (206) 296-9070 or by e-mail at david.seaver@kingcounty.gov .
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David Seaver
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Complex Prosecutions and Investigations Division
Office of the King County Prosecuting Attorney
(206) 296-9070
david.seaver@kingcounty.gov
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Now I could literally write a book on this whole adventure, but instead I've opted to place his criminal history on a site I own called allreaders.net. The postings on my site are not a blog, not my opinion, merely a collection a criminal charges, mug-shots, and convictions spanning 20 years. There are also photos on the site that were sent to me by a visitor that has had dealings with him.
Anyone reading this post may wish to visit the site to familiarize themselves with this fellow. He is still attempting to operate as a mortgage lender in Washington State even today.
I'm not telling anyone they shouldn't do business with him, merely suggesting you educate yourself on who he is prior to doing so. I have contacted the DOJ, DA, FBI, and my attorneys to try and put and end to his harassment and slanderous claims, but this could take time. I could sue him, but he has no money.
If he contacts anyone of you via Active Rain, or post comments on your blogs, I do apologize for the inconvenience. I hope you will bear with me while this case continues to move forward through the Courts and he is at least temporarily removed from society if found guilty of the crimes for which he stands accused.
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