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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, June 14, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Britt Festival Medford Cruise Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Biz Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2005 State files suit over housing swindle By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Medford police detectives have identified 14 people who say they were swindled out of money by owners of a manufactured-home business that recently went bankrupt. Alpine Mountain Homes Inc. allegedly stole more than $400,000 from the people who have come forward to say the company promised them services that were not received, Medford police Sgt. Brett Johnson said. The alleged victims made payments toward the purchase of mobile homes before the company closed down its Medford and White City offices earlier this year, Johnson said. "The investigation is in its initial stages," he said, adding that police believe there are other "potential victims" who have not yet contacted police. Additionally, the state Department of Justice announced Friday that Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers has filed a lawsuit against Alpine’s owners in Jackson County Circuit Court, alleging violations of both the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) and the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA). Former Alpine officials Gary Waggoner of Medford and Brad and Deborah Blanchard of Rogue River are named as defendants. Advertisement "Victims of this conspiracy have lost thousands of dollars and many have nothing to show for it," Myers said in a prepared statement. "This is the case of a company in financial trouble deceiving its customers and misappropriating their money." The lawsuit alleges that the defendants violated the racketeering law through a pattern of activities that included multiple thefts, an instance of forgery and violation of the state’s mortgage banker/broker law, according to a DOJ news release. Myers also has obtained a temporary restraining order that stops Alpine’s former officials from disposing of assets, destroying records or working in the manufactured-home industry, DOJ officials said. Several alleged victims have filed private lawsuits against Alpine officials in Circuit Court, officials said. Anyone with information that could assist police in their investigation is asked to phone Medford police Detective Tony Young at 774-2244. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Air Purifiers Advertisement s