Comments on: Collateral Damage: A Real Estate Scam and its Aftermath

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:06:17 +0000

the real estate brokers who were involved in these transactions should have asked some questions as well. but there is a problem with brokers not looking at their licenses as a profession and just a source for money. therefore there is no respect for the industry as a whole. there needs to be more scrutiny of real estate brokers as to their ability to be professionals.

By: Nicole Breskin

Nicole Breskin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:04:09 +0000

What a great story. You find a way to humanize a tough issue. The audio is extremely impressive. There’s so much power and emotion in Enyonam’s voice.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:53:35 +0000

Thank you for an interesting article. The story reminds me somewhat of book/film ‘No Country For Old Men.’ During the period from 2005 through 2007, “the environment was ideal for fraudulent mortgage transactions like these.” (Quote taken from article.) D’Emic saw these as routine closings because that was his only experience. He’d done closings for 30 years without a problem. He wasn’t responsible for investigating identities or for approving mortgages. He was responsible for performing routine closings and worked a large volume of these because of his excellent reputation. Thirty years without incident. An excellent reputation. A thriving practice. A good heart. A good man. A tragedy. I pray that Ms. Tollesi receives compensation and is comforted during this tragic time for her and her family. I also pray that Mr. D’Emic returns to work. May they both move forward in their lives and find peace.

By: Glo

Glo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:26:19 +0000

no Monty, perhaps just a victim…multiple closings are very common. Especially when you know the other attornies. Not at all uncommon…just very unfortunate.

By: Monty

Monty — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:01:01 +0000

Glo, isn’t it just a BIT suspicious that D’Emic participated in THREE sales where BOTH parties used stolen identities? Maybe not a bastard, but still pretty slimy.

By: Glo

Glo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:50:46 +0000

By the way, I am not calling Mr. D’Emic a “bastard” I am being sarcastic in reference to the other readers..

By: Glo

Glo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:26:48 +0000

It sounds to me that there are two victims here. Isn’t it possible that Mr. D’Emic was asked to do these closing by someone who knew the good quality of his work? If all the documents were presented, how could anyone know that fraud was being perpetrated? Both Ms.Tolessi and Mr. D’Emic seem to have been victimized. The Queens DA would have never let the “bastard Lawyer”, as the above commenter called him, go if enough evidence was present to indict him of full fraud. Sometimes, innocent people unwittingly become involved in scams..we have become far too synical and forget that our Constitution says we are innocent until proven guilty. Obiviously, there wasn’t enough evidence against Mr.D’Emic. We can only hope that justice is served to those who conceived that scam. Ms. Zepeda, I’d like to read a follow up article after you thoroughly complete your investigation….

By: Abby

Abby — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:22:13 +0000

Excellent writing on an interesting story.

By: cindy

cindy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:16:32 +0000

Please advise the victim to seek help from New Jersey Legal Services. Contact information is at http://www.lawhelp.org

By: Human Toll of a Queens Mortgage Fraud - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Human Toll of a Queens Mortgage Fraud - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:28:47 +0000

[...] an intricate and devastating mortgage fraud scheme has intertwined the lives of John D’Emic, formerly a chief deputy county clerk in Brooklyn, [...]