Richmond Virginia Home Foreclosure Scam Investigation

The story of Pamela Fowler was highlighted in a 2008 ABC News report.

Ms. Fowler of Richmond, Virginia is one of millions of Americans who have lost their homes to foreclosure scam artists. She now lives in a mobile home in North Carolina – a big change from the four bedroom brick home that she describes as "perfect."

There was plenty of room for her and her daughter. "I thought that was where we would spend the rest of our lives," she said. But an injury took Ms. Fowler off her feet. She could no longer work.

Bills began to pile up.

She fell behind on her mortgage. Her attempts to refinance were unsuccessful.

Then… "These people came to me as my guardian angels to save me and I listened to them because I was desperate," she said. The offer of help gave her hope.

Her guardian angel offered to purchase the house and let her live in it rent free for one year.

Ms. Fowler was promised that she would be able to buy the house back when she was on her feet again.

But they sold the house out from under her and Fowler was forced out.

She lost her home and all the equity she had built. She had invested her life savings in the house. That was gone, too.

In the resulting FBI investigation, a Virginia woman, Anna Essex Thorne, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with the purchase of Ms. Fowler's home.

As part of a plea agreement, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution. Ms. Fowler hopes to one day see that money.

"I worked hard my whole life. I came from poverty and I had achieved the American Dream, and I feel they ripped it away from me," she said, as tears filled her eyes. "I mean they took my future, my daughter's future … all that work, and now I feel like such a failure. I feel my whole life has been a failure."

Jackie Felton, chief of the FBI's Economic Crimes Unit, acknowledges that when homeowners start falling behind they become vulnerable.

"When you are in crisis mode, most of us panic and that's the worst time to actually try to make a decision," she added.

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