Everyone lost in this economy. Investors have a responsibility where they put their money and to diversify. Every investment has a risk of loss nothing is guaranteed and I am sure these "victims" are embellishing what they were told, because anyone with half a brain would never believe what they "said" was told to them, and there isn't an investment that exists that is a guarantee. Unless you put your money in a savings bank there is always a risk, look at the stock market, and all real estate investment firms in the last 5 years. Just because there are losses doesn't mean investors are victims or someone was cheated sometimes losses happen due to the economy. These people would rather be victims then take any blame. And in the end its Ward's business everyone answered to Ward who sold these people on the investment, if anyone was savvy to understand or had intent "if" a crime was committed the DA should go after the Ward and inform anyone else that you don't open a business to take advantage of investors let alone take advantage of her co-workers/peers who also invested and lost, the master mind with the intent should go down with the company not the people who trusted her as the company leader. This case is either a sign of the economy and there is no one to blame but the natural cycle of finances, mortgages, bad lending etc...and if a wrong was done and can be proven (which I find it hard to believe when everyone lost money and investors dont want to accept their own part) prosecute Ward and be done with it.

cody01 wrote: There are lots of people involved in this .......

I am sure there are. It is taking a longtime to get justice for all the people with double whamy of Ms. WARDS and the economy. Justice delayed is justice denied. All these crooks have connection in government. WARDS spouse works for the city. Just wish the prosecutors gets the cases done soon and get the victims some relief.

There are lots of people involved in this. So many people that it won't be in the Tracy press.

This case, like the Herzog case will just disappear.

Mr.TPee:

It was sure to happen with the real-estate market, when there is no income comming. This is nothing new for Tracy. NO MONEY NO HONEY?

This town sure has had more than it's share of criminal women. These gals, Huckaby, the 2 that were arrested for kidnapping (chained up boy) Kyle, the roasted bean lady, Tipton. Probably more I'm forgetting.

Just type in their names and you will find many websites showing their realty businesses in the Carolinas.

CN

Larry and Maria got out of dodge when all this went down so what does that tell us. I heard a rumor that they moved to the carloina's. Tell me if im wrong.

I don't think real estate was as evil as TRAQ parrots made it out to be. And the current home prices are much more realistic. I will say we will miss Mekus' monthly flier. With everything from tips on real estate to diaper bag selecting.

Friend of mine did some work on one of Leeza's properties. Never got paid.

I agree w/chrisroberts, except the part about the 401K's.

Everything revolved around the real estate market. Americans have been defrauded by the banks, Brokers, real estate agents, Etc.,. That includes city council members.

This investigation has opened a can of worms. So, lets go fishing!

Problem; There were lots of good people, honest folks, that got caught up in this case.

Collateral Damage.

3m bail? Not enough.

The media has already put names to this, "Under water homes", "Bubble bursting".

No! Not even.

Promises were made; A promise to the home buyer that their home would increase in value. A promise by the home buyer to pay on their mortgage, w/anticipation of a gain(Positive equity).

The promise of a gain was broken before it was made.

They made money when the market was going up, then, they made money on the market that went down.

justmembj, I speculate the reason your post was deleted was because there is no indication Larry and Maria Mekus were involved in any of the crimes Leesa Ward, Alison Jensen, and Sharon Graham are alleged to have committed. They may have shared office space for a while and Leesa may be related to them, but that does not mean the Mekus's were involved in any wrongdoing. They have not been charged, and unless evidence to the contrary arises, I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt and keep their names out of this.

Half this town was built on a real estate scam. Ninja loans to illegals with no assets, lying, everyone was in on it, even our own city council.

Of course once everything went bust and all the money dried up, people are calling for heads to roll.

But when everyone was refinancing making 80k plus between 2004-2005 because prices jumped so much, and all the local property taxes were pouring in cash, no one complained. We even re-elected the same bozo's to the city council.

I'm just thankful my parents who are getting older are old school people from back east. All their money is in a 401k and the government and shady real estate folks will never be able to touch it.

They could walk away from their home (which is now worth less than it was when they bought it in 2002) and they will still be able to live nicely.

Lots of other folks aint so lucky.

I've known that outfit was shady from the get-go! We bought a house through their office and every inspection turned out to be questionable and the work that did have to be done was sub-standard. I'm glad to see them get what they justly deserve.

I guess we no longer have "freedom of speech"! I post ONE comment, asking where Larry and Maria Mekus ended up in all of this fraud, and it is deleted? It was an honest question......

GREAT NEWS I SURE HOPE THEY FORCE THESE PEOPLE TO RE-PAY THE INVESTORS. AND WITH PRISON TIME, I WISH THEY WOULD INVESTAGATE MORE LOAN SHARKS AND MAKE THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS