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For Immediate Release:	Contact: Cam Savage
February 27, 2004	(317) 232-6533

Indianapolis, IN -- Secretary of State Todd Rokita today asked citizens of Cass County to come forward if they have information relating to an alleged criminal mortgage fraud scam with ties to the Logansport area.

Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner recently filed felony criminal theft charges against Sharon L. Wenstrom of Indianapolis. The counts include 15 felony theft charges relating to mortgage fraud believed to have occurred in Cass County and Johnson County. Wenstrom is suspected of submitting false settlement charges to her clients.

The criminal charges are the result of an investigation initiated by Secretary Rokita's office in November of 2003.

Rokita encouraged anyone who believes he or she may have been victimized by Wenstrom or any mortgage broker to contact his Securities Division immediately at 1.800.223.8791.

"This is a case of out and out fraud. The victims in this case were usually first time home buyers who made the mistake of trusting this particular mortgage broker," Rokita said.

Many of the victims believed to have been targeted are Hispanic and may have been unfamiliar with the mortgage broker process.

Rokita praised those involved in the investigation that led to the charges, Securities Commissioner Jim Joven, Detective Rex Saltzgaver of the Greenwood Police Department, Secretary of State Enforcement Attorney Paul Lawson, Secretary of State Investigator Kim Haskins and Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner.