Fourth Guilty Plea in TV Ad Scheme

The fourth and final defendant involved with a scheme targeting Maryland homeowners facing foreclosure via local television ads has pleaded guilty to related charges. Earnest Lewis of Takoma Park, Md., admitted in U.S. District Court to participating in a scheme were his brother Michael K. Lewis aired television advertisements that targeted financially vulnerable individuals, representing that he could improve their credit, save their homes from foreclosure and assist them with bankruptcy. The co-conspirators fraudulently told the homeowners that they had to sign their homes over to Earnest Lewis and, in turn, he would use his credit to temporarily refinance their homes. They could repurchase the homes in a year, or once they regained their financial footing. During the interim, they could remain in their homes by paying "rent" and fees to Earnest Lewis by having their bank accounts directly debited by an account belonging to another co-conspirator. Co-conspirators Michael Lewis, Cheryl Brooke and Winston Thomas have also all pleaded guilty to participating in this scheme.