Mortgage fraud is so prevalent today that even individuals related to celebrities are creating scams in order to steal money from future homeowners.
Lucius Foster, the estranged father to actress Jodie Foster, has been sentenced to five years in jail after bilking more than $130,000 from the poor and elderly in a homebuilding scheme.
Foster, a building contractor, was convicted of 21 misdemeanor counts of grand theft and nine counts of contracting without a license. He was facing a maximum sentencing of 25 years in jail.
The 21 victims were elderly or low-income residents who made a $5,000 downpayment to Foster after he promised them to build affordable homes made from cargo containers. The units were never built and prosecutors said he blatantly lied to clients. When the victims tried to obtain their money from Foster, he ignored their requests.
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that nine additional people were induced by this fraudulent scam and that Foster was recruiting new victims while the trial was taking place.
According to the prosecution, Foster used his World War II war stories, lies and natural appeal as an 89-year-old to get victims to participate in his scheme.
“Despite your personal charm, your compelling life story, you're dangerous,” said Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory Dohi at Foster's sentencing.
A restitution hearing is scheduled to take place in February.
