Aliso Viejo Sales Manager Pleads Guilty for Mortgage Scheme for Millions

ALISO VIEJO, CA—A 55-year-old Aliso Viejo resident who acted as a sales manager for a multi-million-dollar mortgage modification program pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.

Charles Wayne Farris admitted his part in the scheme, according to the Department of Justice.

Farris admitted his role in defrauding over 1,500 people out of approximately $9 million dollars. He is the second person to plead guilty to the case of the Rodis Law Group—also known as America’s Law Group—that carried out the fraudulent activity using radio advertisements to promote their mortgage relief services.

Prosecutors in the case state that both Rodis Law, AKA America’s Law, advertised nationally over radio advertisements where they promised a team of experienced attorneys would negotiate lower interest rates or principal balances on behalf of new clients. According to court records, Ronald Rodis was the only attorney listed in either business, furthering the scam.

Prosecutors have also stated that both businesses were merely telemarketers who targeted “desperate clients” using “lies and false promises” according to a report from the OC Register.

“The defendants in this case preyed upon vulnerable homeowners facing the loss of their home and callously took advantage of what hope they had left,” assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office Deirdre L. Fike said in an early July statement.

“Paid advertisements can lend a veneer of credibility to any scam,” Fike said. “I would encourage anyone considering paying fees up front for services to be skeptical before handing over hard-earned money.”

A third man involved in this case, Bryan D’Antonio, has been charged with nine counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is still awaiting trial.