Lemmon Perkins, 43, Granville, Ohio, was indicted on multiple counts of theft, money laundering, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Perkins was the owner of the now-defunct Lemmon & Associates Title, which went out of business in February 2006. She surrendered her license to the Ohio Department of Insurance in December 2006. She has not conducted title agency business since then.
Upon closing the business, it was discovered that money was missing from the title agency's escrow account, a result of the alleged theft by Lemmon Perkins. Six victims reported that they received "bad checks" from Lemmon Title after loan closings. The victims' loss is estimated at just under $400,000. Two victims were senior citizens. Charges for crimes against children for the elderly carry a stiffer penalty under Ohio law.
This indictment is part of a continuing crackdown on mortgage fraud by General Dann's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission in cooperation with county prosecutors' offices and local, state, and federal law enforcement authorities.
Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors.