Local man awaits sentencing in mortgage assistance fraud case

PONTIAC (AP) - A lawyer accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from people in Michigan that were facing mortgage foreclosures faces sentencing next month.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says 52-year-old Steven Barry Ruza of Orchard Lake and his company Home Legal Group pleaded guilty in the case earlier this month. As part of the plea, Schuette's office says restitution will be paid.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15 for Ruza on a charge of conducting a criminal enterprise. He must pay $250,000 in restitution by Sept. 22 and more later.

Schuette's office says Ruza and Home Legal Group promised people that they could obtain mortgage modifications and save their homes from foreclosure but then did nothing, or very little, to obtain mortgage modifications. Most lost their homes due to foreclosure.

Published: Thu, Sep 17, 2015