Rokita files suit over alleged manufactured home fraud scheme
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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against three people in Bartholomew County accused of scheming to defraud people seeking installations of manufactured homes.
The lawsuit alleges that Steven, Jocel, and Aron Singer, all residents of Columbus, engaged in the sale of manufactured homes without a license from the Indiana Secretary of State’s office.
Additionally, the three allegedly either promised to or completed the installation of manufactured homes without a manufactured home installers license.
The defendants, according to the lawsuit, also did business under the names of various companies, including Singer Manufactured Homes, Singer Investment Group, Cabin Creek Homes, Rock Creek Homes, United Palace Home Transport and Sales.
The complaint specifically notes a case in which a consumer, Shirley Michaels, paid the defendants $36,000 to install a manufactured home and working appliances, but they reportedly failed to do so. They also allegedly failed to deliver a title for the home.
Click here to view the full complaint
The defendants reportedly received a cease-and-desist order from the Manufactured Home Installers License Board in 2014, and received a similar order from the Indiana Secretary of State this past February.
Rokita’s office accuses the defendants of four violations of the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and is seeking fines of $5,000 per count.
Additionally, the state is asking a judge to order the defendants to pay restitution to Michaels and prevent them from installing manufactured homes without a license, among other relief.
“We’re acting on behalf of Hoosiers who in some cases paid tens of thousands for services they never received in a satisfactory manner,” Rokita said in a news release. “Our team works diligently to protect the proverbial little guy from getting conned by slick hustlers just looking to make a quick buck. We will hold accountable anyone who dupes consumers in violation of our laws.”
Roktia’s office is asking anyone who purchased a manufactured home from any of the defendants or paid them for the installation of their manufactured home in the last five years to contact the Attorney General’s Homeowner Protection Unit.