Talk about a title NIGHTMARE.  As you will see below in a blurb from April Charney, a large national servicer (U.S. Mortgage) STOLE mortgages belonging to credit unions for which they were servicing the Notes.  ($142 million worth of loans!!!).

U.S. Mortgage sold the loans to Fannie Mae and kept all the money but kept sending the mortgage payments to the credit unions and Fannie Mae so no one ever knew.  Eventually after stealing the loans and selling to a very aggressive Fannie Mae as purchaser, the servicer went bankrupt.   The credit unions moved to service the loans themselves or transfer them to another servicer and found out the servicer had stolen their loans and sold them.

In the case below a specific credit union wants the loans back but Fannie already sold them into the securities market and/or doesn’t want to give them up AND wants the mortgage payments sent to them.

The credit union’s beef with Fannie is that Fannie audited U.S. Mortgage each year and blessed their internal processes but when buying the loan failed to always secure the original notes AND the property records only show the credit union’s deed of trust and NO ASSIGNMENT from the credit union to the servicer or anyone else.  Hence, the loan still belonged to the credit union.

Among some of the fascinating elements in the case is one in which employees at the servicer even produced fake promissory notes and signed blue ink pretending to be the borrower when on occasion Fannie actually asked for the original notes.

This is a good example of the lies and theft going on behind closed doors.

- The Bank Slayer

From: April Charney [April.Charney@jaxlegalaid.org]

SUFFOLK FEDERAL CREDIT UNION,
Plaintiff,
vs.
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION
Defendant

Case 2:10-cv-02763-GEB

In 2009, “Suffolk learned that U.S. Mortgage ha[d] stolen 189 of the mortgage loans it was servicing (the “Stolen Mortgages”), worth more than $42 million2 and sold them to Fannie Mae.” (Id. at ¶ 7.) Suffolk states in its Complaint that “McGrath and another U.S. Mortgage employee, Ron Carti, had prepared and signed loan transfer documents that falsely identified themselves as executives of Suffolk” and that “Fannie Mae accepted the documents and paid U.S. Mortgage millions of dollars without ever checking into McGrath’s or Carti’s authority to execute loan transfer documents on behalf of Suffolk.” (Id. at ¶ 7.)

The theft of the Stolen Mortgages occurred throughout years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, during which time “U.S. Mortgage officers and employees . . . selected loans that Suffolk had instructed CU National to retain in Suffolk’s portfolio and . . . sold those loans to Fannie Mae without Suffolk’s knowledge or authorization.” (Id. at ¶ 39.) “U.S. Mortgage sold the Stolen Mortgages to Fannie Mae by having McGrath and Carti execute the documentation themselves” despite the fact that only authorized Suffolk employees had authority to sign these documents. (Id. at ¶ 41.) Neither McGrath nor Carti had the authority to execute these documents. (Id. at ¶¶ 71-77.)

In addition, U.S. Mortgage “concealed its actions from Suffolk . . . for years by continuing to make monthly payments on the stolen mortgages as if they remained in [Suffolk's] portfolio[].” (Id. at ¶ 9.) “McGrath has already pleaded guilty to crimes in connection with his unauthorized sales of the Stolen Mortgages and, in doing so, had admitted that he and Carti executed loan transfer documents purportedly on Suffolk’s behalf without Suffolk’s authorization.” (Id. at ¶ 48.)

McGrath also admitted that “he did not always deliver an authentic original note to Fannie Mae in his unauthorized sales” and that in some cases “he forged the name of the borrower on a newly created note” and in others “he had color copies of notes made and delivered a copy of the note to Fannie Mae.” (Id. at 51.)

(Paragraph 42 of the Complaint states that the Stolen Mortgages were worth more than $142 million. (Compl. ¶ 42; Doc. No. 1.))

This is hilarious but totally believable.    Spend ten minutes in our office and you will see how often the mortgage servicers and their foreclosure mill law firms make stuff up.

- The Bank Slayer

Florida Default Law Group, representing Chase Home Finance LLC, has filed two (2) alleged “original” promissory notes in the same open case on two different dates, with the borrower’s signature being completely different on both “originals”.

Obviously there is only one true “original” promissory note, which may or may not be one of the two “originals” filed. Obviously one of them is a forgery, and it may be that both are “photoshop” forgeries.

Recently we came across a great list of data points on MERS.   Prepare to be overwhelmed with the purposeful confusion MERS aims to achieve.  Articles specifically about MERS can be found here.

MERS Basic Corporate Information

• MERS is incorporated within the State of Delaware.
• MERS was first incorporated in Delaware in 1999.
• The total number of shares of common stock authorized by MERS’ articles of incorporation is 1,000.
• The total number of shares of MERS common stock actually issued is 1,000.
• MERS is a wholly owned subsidiary of MERSCorp, Inc.
• MERS’ principal place of business at 1595 Spring Hill Road, Suite 310, Vienna, Virginia 22182
• MERS’ national data center is located in Plano, Texas.
• MERS’ serves as a “nominee” of mortgages and deeds of trust recorded in all fifty states.
• Over 50 million loans have been registered on the MERS system.
• MERS’ federal tax identification number is “541927784”.

The Nature of MERS’ Business

• MERS does not take applications for, underwrite or negotiate mortgage loans.
• MERS does not make or originate mortgage loans to consumers.
• MERS does not extend any credit to consumers.
• MERS has no role in the origination or original funding of the mortgages or deeds of trust for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS does not service mortgage loans.
• MERS does not sell mortgage loans.
• MERS is not an investor who acquires mortgage loans on the secondary market.
• MERS does not ever receive or process mortgage applications.
• MERS simply holds mortgage liens in a nominee capacity and through its electronic registry, tracks changes in the ownership of mortgage loans and servicing rights related thereto.
• MERS© System is not a vehicle for creating or transferring beneficial interests in mortgage loans.
• MERS is not named as a beneficiary of the alleged promissory note.

Ownership of Promissory Notes or Mortgage Indebtedness

• MERS is never the owner of the promissory note for which it seeks foreclosure.
• MERS has no legal or beneficial interest in the promissory note underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS has no legal or beneficial interest in the loan instrument underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”
• MERS has no legal or beneficial interest in the mortgage indebtedness underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS has no interest at all in the promissory note evidencing the mortgage indebtedness.
• MERS is not a party to the alleged mortgage indebtedness underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS has no financial or other interest in whether or not a mortgage loan is repaid.
• MERS is not the owner of the promissory note secured by the mortgage and has no rights to the payments made by the debtor on such promissory note.
• MERS does not make or acquire promissory notes or debt instruments of any nature and therefore cannot be said to be acquiring mortgage loans.
• MERS has no interest in the notes secured by mortgages or the mortgage servicing rights related thereto.
• MERS does not acquire any interest (legal or beneficial) in the loan instrument (i.e., the promissory note or other debt instrument).
• MERS has no rights whatsoever to any payments made on account of such mortgage loans, to any servicing rights related to such mortgage loans, or to any mortgaged properties securing such mortgage loans.
• The note owner appoints MERS to be its agent to only hold the mortgage lien interest, not to hold any interest in the note.
• MERS does not hold any interest (legal or beneficial) in the promissory notes that are secured by such mortgages or in any servicing rights associated with the mortgage loan.
• The debtor on the note owes no obligation to MERS and does not pay MERS on the note.

MERS’ Accounting of Mortgage Indebtedness / MERS Not At Risk

• MERS is not entitled to receive any of the payments associated with the alleged mortgage indebtedness.
• MERS is not entitled to receive any of the interest revenue associated with mortgage indebtedness for which it serves as “nominee”.
• Interest revenue related to the mortgage indebtedness for which MERS serves as “nominee” is never reflected within MERS’ bookkeeping or accounting records nor does such interest influence MERS’ earnings.
• Mortgage indebtedness for which MERS serves as the serves as “nominee” is not reflected as an asset on MERS’ financial statements.
• Failure to collect the outstanding balance of a mortgage loan will not result in an accounting loss by MERS.
• When a foreclosure is completed, MERS never actually retains or enjoys the use of any of the proceeds from a sale of the foreclosed property, but rather would remit such proceeds to the true party at interest.
• MERS is not actually at risk as to the payment or nonpayment of the mortgages or deeds of trust for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS has no pecuniary interest in the promissory notes or the mortgage indebtedness for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS is not personally aggrieved by any alleged default of a promissory note for which it serves as “nominee”.
• There exists no real controversy between MERS and any mortgagor alleged to be in default.
• MERS has never suffered any injury by arising out of any alleged default of a promissory note for which it serves as “nominee”.

MERS’ Interest in the Mortgage Security Instrument

• MERS holds the mortgage lien as nominee for the owner of the promissory note.
• MERS, in a nominee capacity for lenders, merely acquires legal title to the security instrument (i.e., the deed of trust or mortgage that secures the loan).
• MERS simply holds legal title to mortgages and deeds of trust as a nominee for the owner of the promissory note.
• MERS immobilizes the mortgage lien while transfers of the promissory notes and servicing rights continue to occur.
• The investor continues to own and hold the promissory note, but under the MERS® System, the servicing entity only holds contractual servicing rights and MERS holds legal title to the mortgage as nominee for the benefit of the investor (or owner and holder of the note) and not for itself.
• In effect, the mortgage lien becomes immobilized by MERS continuing to hold the mortgage lien when the note is sold from one investor to another via an endorsement and delivery of the note or the transfer of servicing rights from one MERS member to another MERS member via a purchase and sale agreement which is a non-recordable contract right.
• Legal title to the mortgage or deed of trust remains in MERS after such transfers and is tracked by MERS in its electronic registry.

Beneficial Interest in the Mortgage Indebtedness

• MERS holds legal title to the mortgage for the benefit of the owner of the note.
• The beneficial interest in the mortgage (or person or entity whose interest is secured by the mortgage) runs to the owner and holder of the promissory note and/or servicing rights thereunder.
• MERS has no interest at all in the promissory note evidencing the mortgage loan.
• MERS does not acquire an interest in promissory notes or debt instruments of any nature.
• The beneficial interest in the mortgage (or the person or entity whose interest is secured by the mortgage) runs to the owner and holder of the promissory note (NOT MERS).

MERS As Holder

• MERS is never the holder of a promissory note in the ordinary course of business.
• MERS is not a custodian of promissory notes underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”.
• MERS does not even maintain copies of promissory notes underlying the security instrument for which it serves as “nominee”.
• Sometimes when an investor or servicer desires to foreclose, the servicer obtains the promissory note from the custodian holding the note on behalf of the mortgage investor and places that note in the hands of a servicer employee who has been appointed as an officer (vice president and assistant secretary) of MERS by corporate resolution.
• When a promissory note is placed in the hands of a servicer employee who is also an MERS officer, MERS asserts that this transfer of custody into the hands of this nominal officer (without any transfer of ownership or beneficial interest) renders MERS the holder.
• No consideration or compensation is exchanged between the owner of the promissory note and MERS in consideration of this transfer in custody.
• Even when the promissory note is physically placed in the hands of the servicer’s employee who is a nominal MERS officer, MERS has no actual authority to control the foreclosure or the legal actions undertaken in its name.
• MERS will never willingly reveal the identity of the owner of the promissory note unless ordered to do so by the court.
• MERS will never willingly reveal the identity of the prior holders of the promissory note unless ordered to do so by the court.
• Since the transfer in custody of the promissory note is not for consideration, this transfer of custody is not reflected in any contemporaneous accounting records.
• MERS is never a holder in due course when the transfer of custody occurs after default.
• MERS is never the holder when the promissory note is shown to be lost or stolen.

MERS’ Role in Mortgage Servicing

• MERS does not service mortgage loans.
• MERS is not the owner of the servicing rights relating to the mortgage loan and MERS does not service loans.
• MERS does not collect mortgage payments.
• MERS does not hold escrows for taxes and insurance.
• MERS does not provide any servicing functions on mortgage loans, whatsoever.
• Those rights are typically held by the servicer of the loan, who may or may not also be the holder of the note.

MERS’ Rights To Control the Foreclosure

• MERS must all times comply with the instructions of the holder of the mortgage loan promissory notes.
• MERS only acts when directed to by its members and for the sole benefit of the owners and holders of the promissory notes secured by the mortgage instruments naming MERS as nominee owner.
• MERS’ members employ and pay the attorneys bringing foreclosure actions in MERS’ name.

MERS’ Access To or Control Over Records or Documents

• MERS has never maintained archival copies of any mortgage application for which it serves as “nominee”.
• In its regular course of business, MERS as a corporation does not maintain physical possession or custody of promissory notes, deeds of trust or other mortgage security instruments on behalf of its principals.
• MERS as a corporation has no archive or repository of the promissory notes secured by deeds of trust or other mortgage security instruments for which it serves as nominee.
• MERS as a corporation is not a custodian of the promissory notes secured by deeds of trust or other mortgage security instruments for which it serves as nominee.
• MERS as a corporation has no archive or repository of the deeds of trust or other mortgage security instruments for which it serves as nominee.
• In its regular course of business, MERS as a corporation does not routinely receive or archive copies of the promissory notes secured by the mortgage security instruments for which it serves as nominee.
• In its regular course of business, MERS as a corporation does not routinely receive or archive copies of the mortgage security instruments for which it serves as nominee.
• Copies of the instruments attached to MERS’ petitions or complaints do not come from MERS’ corporate files or archives.
• In its regular course of business, MERS as a corporation does not input the promissory note or mortgage security instrument ownership registration data for new mortgages for which it serves as nominee, but rather the registration information for such mortgages are entered by the “member” mortgage lenders, investors and/or servicers originating, purchasing, and/or selling such mortgages or mortgage servicing rights.
• MERS does not maintain a central corporate archive of demands, notices, claims, appointments, releases, assignments, or other files, documents and/or communications relating to collections efforts undertaken by MERS officers appointed by corporate resolution and acting under its authority.

Management and Supervision

• In preparing affidavits and certifications, officers of MERS, including Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries, making representations under MERS’ authority and on MERS’ behalf, are not primarily relying upon books of account, documents, records or files within MERS’ corporate supervision, custody or control.
• Officers of MERS preparing affidavits and certifications, including Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries, and otherwise making representations under MERS’ authority and on MERS’ behalf, do not routinely furnish copies of these affidavits or certifications to MERS for corporate retention or archival.
• Officers of MERS preparing affidavits and certifications, including Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries, and otherwise making representations under MERS’ authority and on MERS’ behalf are not working under the supervision or direction of senior MERS officers or employees, but rather are supervised by personnel employed by mortgage investors or mortgage servicers.