Mortgage fraudster gets more prison time

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Tashia Lynn Winstanley

September 15, 2012

Mortgage fraudster gets more prison time

She's sentenced to minimum of 10 years

BY ART BUKOWSKI abukowski@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Sat Sep 15, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — Ian Streadwick turned to Tashia Lynn Winstanley in a effort save his home, a place with a value far greater than dollars and cents.

Streadwick put loads of labor into improving his Interlochen property, a "sweat equity" investment undertaken by many people who want to make their home the best it can be. He hoped Winstanley could help modify his mortgage so he wouldn't lose the house to foreclosure.

Like dozens of others victimized by Winstanley, Streadwick is in worse shape now than before.

"In my case ... tens of thousands of dollars and many hundreds of hours of labor were put into my property to improve it to make it more beautiful," he said. "But it's going back to the bank in November, and I don't think there's anything I can do to stop it because she put me so far in the hole. There's no digging out."

Winstanley, through her Holly-based business, promised to help dozens of people modify their mortgages. Instead she stole nearly $250,000 from about 60 people across the state, largely by keeping payments she was supposed to make to banks.

Multiple local victims spoke Friday before 13th Circuit Judge Philip E. Rodgers sentenced her to a minimum of 10 years in prison for running a criminal enterprise, among other charges.

Victims were found in eight counties across the state, including Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Kalkaska.

"I called you my angel because you were so caring on the phone, but I bet you laughed your butt off when you got off the phone, thinking to yourself that you hooked another sucker," said Romona Traxler, of Interlochen, one of the victims.

Many victims were in desperate financial situations, on the brink of losing their homes. That makes Winstanley's crimes all the more heinous, authorities and victims said.

"You took advantage of us, and that really just makes me so mad," said Megan Hawley, a victim from Leelanau County. "You listened to us cry to you."

Winstanley was convicted this year in Oakland, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties for larceny by conversion of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 for defrauding clients who sought loan modifications. She already is serving a minimum 17-month sentence at the women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti.

The Michigan Attorney Generals' office became involved as more victims were identified, and Winstanley was in court Friday to be sentenced on charges brought by that office. Assistant Attorney General Scott Teter said Winstanley was "masterful" in her scheme.

"She's articulate, she's bright, and she's extremely manipulative," he said. "That makes her very, very dangerous."

Rodgers ordered Winstanley to pay restitution, and victims also are expected to get help from a state pool of money reserved for victims of mortgage-related fraud. But some have lost or are much closer to losing their homes, something that's not easy to reverse.

"There are times when you look at (a crime) and say, with all of the tools available, we can't fix this," Teter said. "Part of it's about the money, but ... the money's not going to fix this," he said.