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MIDVALE — FBI agents, along with other federal agencies, executed a search warrant Tuesday on three locations in Salt Lake County, all of which were once associated with the CC Brown Law Office.
The law office is also said to have operated under the names Sentry Legal, JL Martin, and WT Lee.
According to the Department of Justice, the law offices had been working on mortgage modifications with clients. But there is evidence that countless people were ripped off instead.
Charlotte Bowerbank, a client of CC Brown, says she paid $3,000 five years ago and got nothing out of the deal but bankruptcy.
"I would have received loan modification about five different times if it wasn't for them not getting my paperwork in on time," Bowerbank said.
We were told to badmouth the major banks, tell (clients) they received bailout money and squandered it all and lined their pockets.
–David Sheen, ex-employee
A former employee of CC Brown, who wished to remain anonymous, told KSL News the business was full of sloppy business practices, employees were ordered to forge signatures, and personal information left in the open.
David Sheen, another ex-employee, said he was hoping to get his final paycheck Friday. Instead, he spent the afternoon talking to reporters.
"A realtor friend of mine told me there's no way this law firm can legally charge for these services," Sheen said. "We were told to badmouth the major banks, tell (clients) they received bailout money and squandered it all and lined their pockets."
In fact, the Utah Office of Consumer Protection issued a cease and desist order to CC Brown in May for operating without holding the proper real estate license.
Regardless, there are an unknown number of victims. A Facebook search turned up a page called "CC Brown law firm SCAM," on which people have posted claims that the company bilked them out of thousands of dollars when they went to the firm to deal with foreclosure. One poster even claimed to be bringing a complaint against the company.
The FBI has set up a toll-free number for those who have been working with CC Brown and want more information at 1-877-236-8947. Individuals may also submit information about the company’s business practices to the FBI by email at saltlakecity@ic.fbi.gov.
Contributing: Dave Newlin
