TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) -- Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit Wednesday against a company that allegedly defrauded distressed Florida homeowners out of thousands of dollars in a mortgage relief scam.
Whitestone Capital Trust LLC, Become the Bank LLC and Nicolas Torgerson, the company's main principal, allegedly violated state consumer protection laws by charging up-front fees to homeowners and misrepresenting that the defendants would void or cancel the homeowners' mortgage.
"Today's lawsuit will protect Florida's homeowners from this mortgage relief scam," Bondi said in a statement.
The lawsuit alleges Whitestone Capital Trust LLC, Become the Bank LLC and Nicolas Torgerson charged thousands of dollars in advanced fees for services while misleading distressed owners of property.
The defendants allegedly claimed Whitestone Capital Trust and Become the Bank would work with homeowners to help regain equity in their homes by permanently canceling or voiding mortgages. The defendants allegedly acquired titles to distressed homeowners' properties, pocketed the advance fees and failed to provide the promised relief.
Homeowners were still allegedly liable for payments on the mortgage and note that they thought were voided.
The lawsuit seeks to bar Whitestone Capital Trust LLC, Become the Bank LLC and Nicolas Torgerson from activities that violate Florida consumer protection laws.