crime:

Former LV talk radio host accused of mortgage scam

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | 11:39 a.m.

Coverage of Las Vegas area crimes

A former Las Vegas talk show host has been arrested on two counts of felony theft and related charges in connection with an alleged mortgage rescue scam, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said today.

Jack Ferm was taken into custody by state authorities. Ferm is president and owner of U.S. Justice Foundation, a document preparation business that misled customers into believing his service would stop ongoing foreclosures on their homes without the need for them to hire an attorney, Masto said.

His company Web site indicates he has participated successfully in litigation against numerous large corporations, Masto said.

The attorney general's office has received numerous complaints about misrepresentations made by Ferm, including several clients who paid thousands of dollars to the U.S. Justice Foundation with no legal documents prepared or filed on their behalf, Masto said.

"Mr. Ferm's conduct warrants prosecution to the fullest extent of the law," Masto said. "These schemes will not be tolerated in our state."

In many cases, Ferm required the victims to pay a monthly charge in addition to the original retainer for the duration of the litigation, Masto said.

During a hearing in federal court last week, Ferm said that the U.S. Justice Foundation has closed its doors and will not be accepting new clients.

Ferm was moderator of the show "Straight Talk," broadcast on the radio station KKVV 1060 from 1994 through 2003.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should contact the Attorney General's Office at (702) 486-3777 in Las Vegas, or (775) 684-1180 in Carson City.

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By neiman1

March 11, 2009

5 p.m.

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People who took out mortgages that were "cheaper and easier" fall victim of a helper that can save you "cheaper and easier" than a lawyer. You just can't save some people from themselves. It's going to be called the Obamageneration. All want and no work or brains.
By LasVegasLawyerGal

March 11, 2009

5:31 p.m.

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What's particularly tragic is that there is a host of free legal education resources available to the public through the Boyd School of Law, the State Bar of Nevada and Legal Aid of Southern Nevada, so there is no reason for anyone facing the challenge of foreclosure to trust their fate to the advice of an unlicensed,(and often self-declared) paralegal.
By bstruthers23

March 12, 2009

9:13 a.m.

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I was victim of a scam (and so were two other family members). I found this company, www.modfraud.org and they were able to get me an attorney and recover a portion of the money I lost. It seems like its happening everywhere, but I cam glad there is some help out there.