AP Exclusive: Mortgage ‘robo-signing’ goes on
By MICHELLE CONLIN and PALLAVI GOGOI
AP Business Writers
July 19, 2011

Mortgage industry employees are still signing documents they haven’t read and using fake signatures more than eight months after big banks and mortgage companies promised to stop the illegal practices that led to a nationwide halt of home foreclosures.

County officials in at least three states say they have received thousands of mortgage documents with questionable signatures since last fall, suggesting that the practices,known collectively as “robo-signing,” remain widespread in the industry.

The documents have come from several companies that process mortgage paperwork, and have been filed on behalf of several major banks. One name, “Linda Green,” was signed almost two dozen different ways.

Lenders say they are working with regulators to fix the problem but cannot explain why it has persisted.

Last fall, the nation’s largest banks and mortgage lenders, including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and an arm of Goldman Sachs, suspended foreclosures while they investigated how corners were cut to keep pace with the crush of foreclosure paperwork.

Since then, suspect paperwork has been filed not only with foreclosures, but also with new purchases and refinancings. Critics say the new findings point to a systemic problem with the paperwork involved in home mortgages and titles. And they say it shows that banks and mortgage processors haven’t acted aggressively enough to put an end to widespread document fraud in the mortgage industry.

“Robo-signing is not even close to over,” says Curtis Hertel, the recorder of deeds in Ingham County, Mich., which includes Lansing. “It’s still an epidemic.”

In Essex County, Mass., the office that handles property deeds has received almost 1,300 documents since October with the signature of “Linda Green,” but in 22 different handwriting styles and with many different titles. [CONTINUE READING]
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By DEADLY CLEAR

I’m shocked! Wish I could really say that I was.  But why should they stop?  It’s only forgery and the courts in Hawaii do not take it seriously.  At the very least this is a moral hazard of the very worse kind.  We are leaving a legacy to our kids (because its kids that are forging these documents) that says its okay to lie, cheat and steal.  Does the Hawaii Judiciary just want job security?  Then stop complaining about the work load.

Judge August was right.  August said so many of the criminals he sentenced were there because of “situations.”  “No one is thinking about the consequences.” Could that be because there are no obvious consequences?

When attorneys submit known fraudulent documents to the courts and robo signing is swept under the rug – what do you expect?!  We’re creating a generation of thieves and thugs.  If you think marijuana is a stepping stone – think about forgery. First a document, then a check, then identity… And these forged robo-signed documents relate to properties collectively worth $BILLIONS of $$$.  Is that really okay?

Shame on any judge anywhere that doesn’t thoroughly review the alleged “legal” documents set before him or her.  Ignoring them and the fraud as if it doesn’t exist will only exacerbate an already intolerable “situation.”

PS.  When you get your conscience back – throw the book at the attorneys that file the garbage robo-signed and other fraudulent documents.  Sanction them to the moon, Alice! And maybe they’ll begin to respect your court.