Laguna Niguel Man Pleads Guilty in $6 Million Loan Modification Scam

Two Orange County men pleaded guilty today in connection with an alleged nationwide $6-million loan modification scam and were immediately sentenced to 250 hours of community service and 10 to 90 days in jail.

Christopher Wright Fox, 40, of Laguna Niguel, was sentenced to 90 days in jail and Curtis James Melone, 40, of Huntington Beach, was sentenced to 10 days in jail, according to court records.

The two admitted illegally taking advance fees for foreclosure consultant work and conspiracy, according to court records. Multiple other counts of grand theft were dismissed.

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Co-defendant King Bethel Harris III, 45, of St. Louis, is next due in court March 17.

The three worked for Orange County-based Green Credit Solutions, which was later renamed Guardian Credit Services and Get My Credit Grade, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. When they were arrested they were accused of collecting more than $6 million in upfront fees for services that were never performed.

Thousands of customers paid $3,500 for loan modification services to reduce their interest rates, monthly payments or principal balance, prosecutors alleged.

• City News Service