MEDIA CONTACT:

Andrea Bitely
Megan Hawthorne
517-373-8060

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2017

Schuette Charges Livingston County Man with 15

Felonies in Mortgage Assistance Scam
Fenton man also faces 15 misdemeanor charges in the case
LANSING Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced that his Homeowner
Protection Unit has filed 15 felony charges, including Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, and 15
misdemeanors against Lawrence Adell Sefa, 54, of Fenton, for stealing tens of thousands of
dollars from Michigan residents who were facing mortgage foreclosures. Sefa operated his scam
through his company, LAS Loan Assistance Centers. The charges were filed following an
Attorney General investigation.

These type of scam artists continue to take advantage of Michigan residents during an
extremely vulnerable time in their lives, and we continue to hold them accountable for their
actions, said Schuette. I want to thank my team for their dedication to finding these
individuals, and I hope this serves as warning to others that we will continue to do what we can
to protect Michigan residents.
Schuette filed the following charges against Sefa on November 9, 2017 in Livingston County
53B District Court:

One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a felony punishable by up to twenty

years in prison;
One count of False Pretenses $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, a felony punishable
by up to fifteen years in prison;
13 counts of False Pretenses $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a felony punishable
by up to five years in prison; and
15 counts of Credit Services Protection Act violations, a misdemeanor punishable by up
to 90 days in jail.

Sefa was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry D. Sherwood on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Bond
was set at $25,000, ten percent cash/surety. Sefa has made bond. He is prohibited from
conducting business relating to credit services or mortgage services and cannot contact victims
while the criminal proceedings are ongoing.

A probable cause hearing has been set for November 29 at 1:00 p.m. in front of Judge Suzanne
Geddis, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for December 5 at 1:00 p.m.

Case Background

The Department of Attorney General received multiple complaints that Sefa and his company
LAS took money from clients up front for mortgage assistance and/or debt settlement but
allegedly never provided the services. Sefa and LAS allegedly guaranteed specific outcomes,
such as lower monthly mortgage payments, which is impossible to do.

Following an investigation by the Department of Attorney General, it was determined a large

portion of Sefas clients, in addition to those who already filed complaints, allegedly did not
receive the promised services from Sefa or LAS.

Sefa also allegedly withheld his clients personal financial documents when asked to return
them.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless
proven guilty.