accessIndiana

GREENFIELD, IN (July 14) – A Hancock County Circuit Court judge today sentenced Sheila Victoria Goodner to an eleven year sentence on 14 felony counts involving mortgage fraud. In addition to the prison time, she is ordered to pay more than $49-thousand in restitution to her victims. The case against Goodner was initially filed by the office of Hancock County Prosecutor Dean Dobbins after a joint investigation with Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita’s Prosecution Assistance Unit.

Goodner solicited business from her victims by representing herself as a loan broker. However, she was not registered as a loan broker with the Secretary of State’s office as required by law. Goodner defrauded seven people out of a total of $49,295 and caused at least one couple to be evicted from their apartment due to their financial hardship as they attempted to pay her ever-increasing fees and charges. Ultimately, the couple was unable to purchase the home they thought they were buying with Goodner’s assistance.

This case of mortgage fraud shows that those who prey on Hoosiers, no matter what the instrument of crime they choose to use, can and do go to prison, said Secretary Rokita. I’m pleased that our efforts, in close collaboration with Hancock County Prosecutor Dean Dobbins, resulted in justice for the victims.

As part of her sentence, following four years in prison, Goodner will be on probation for seven years including serving an additional two years on work release.

The sentencing further underscores Secretary Rokita’s continuing efforts to enhance the regulation of Indiana’s mortgage broker industry. In March, a Hendricks County jury convicted mortgage broker Jason Keigley of multiple violations of the Indiana Loan Broker Act, resulting in an 11 ½ year prison sentence. Last week, Rokita announced that more than 600 of the roughly 950 loan broker licenses issued by his office are being revoked for failure to comply with a July 1 deadline to establish a principal manager for each office.

About the Prosecution Assistance Unit

In 2004, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita created the Prosecution Assistance Unit within the Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s Office. Its purpose is to assist police and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of the Indiana Securities Act and the Indiana Loan Brokers Act. The investigators and attorneys in the unit collectively have over 72 years of experience in investigating and prosecuting criminals. Since its inception, the Unit has helped to convict 38 criminals in state and federal courts across Indiana. In addition, courts have ordered defendants to pay over $29 million in restitution to crime victims. The Unit operates under the direction and supervision of the Securities Commissioner and the Senior Investigator.

###