Couple out $33,500; man chargedBreach of trust, grand larceny alleged in sales of mobile homes By Nita Birmingham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Provided Aquilla Jason Bozard MONCKS CORNER — Matthew Beck and his girlfriend should be getting ready to settle into a double-wide mobile home that was supposed to be moved to Beck's 10 acres in Cross. The young couple instead is facing another year of living with Beck's father, along with their 8-month-old son, after the arrest of the mobile home dealer on breach of trust charges. Beck said the mobile home the couple liked so much is probably still sitting in Hardeeville, and he's out $33,500. "As it is right now I've got a monthly mortgage payment for a mobile home I don't even have," he said Wednesday. Beck is not alone. A Moncks Corner police report lists 16 other individuals police said were victims of Aquilla Jason Bozard, 37, who operated Advantage Homes on U.S. Highway 52. Police arrested Bozard on eight counts of breach of trust last week, Lt. Michael Roach said. Bozard, of Moncks Corner, posted bail, but is scheduled to be back in court Friday on 14 counts of grand larceny and six additional counts of breach of trust, Roach said. Bozard acted as a broker for Green Tree Services of Columbia. Roach explained the process: Green Tree would repossess or foreclose on a mobile home and give the order to vacate the property to Advantage Homes. The home would remain where it was or be pulled to Bozard's business for sale. Roach said Bozard received payment for reselling the homes but didn't always give the money to Green Tree. As a result, the new "owners" of the mobile homes can't move them and can't take legal possession of them because they don't have the titles, Roach said. Roach said Bozard owed Green Tree $192,000 for 10 mobile homes he sold for $290,000. Bozard was to pay Green Tree representatives during a May 27 meeting, a police report stated. Lynda Leonardi of Green Tree said Bozard showed her what appeared to be a cashier's check for $192,000 and she began signing over the titles. The police report said Bozard switched envelopes while Leonardi was in the restroom and she didn't realize it until she left the meeting. Instead of the cashier's check for $192,000, the envelope contained checks for $20 and $1, police said. Green Tree representatives met with police two days later. Bozard could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Seven mobile homes, some missing siding, remain on the lot that is littered with concrete blocks and wooden stairs that once led to doors. Nobody was in the business office. Beck said he thinks he'll get something back from his investment, but he's not expecting the full $33,500. He, his girlfriend and son will continue living at the home of Beck's father, but they are in tight quarters. "It could be another year or so until we save up more money for a home that wasn't quite as nice as what we originally purchased," Beck said. When that time comes, Beck said that he would be hesitant to buy another repossessed home. Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by Thomas1776 on June 5, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do not let Circuit Court Judge Young have anything to do with any criminal case - especially this one. Young will just give this thief merely a little bit of probation and NO prison time.
Posted by whalernut on June 5, 2008 at 5:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope he does some well deserved time behind bars.
Posted by reality_woman on June 5, 2008 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, this is so sad. I am so glad that last month I changed my mind about purchasing a repo from this establishment. I visited thier lot and they told me about a home that had not been moved to their lot, I viewed the home, It was aswesome for the price, and condition. I changed my mind because I didn't want to have a mortgage payment just yet, thank God I didn't go through with it I would have been in the same shape as these poor kids.
I hope that justice prevails and they get to the bottom of where this money is and get these folks their homes.
Posted by moonpie on June 5, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
scallywag! When he gets the wrong one though he better hope he stays in jail!
Posted by Tammie on June 5, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for the couple. I hope they can find another place to stay or if possible, recoup some of the money they lost. As for the "man" (I use the term loosely), I hope he gets to spend some quality time in jail.
Posted by ColdBeer on June 5, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd be surprised if this guy shows up for his court hearings. This dirt bag needs to do some hard time for taking advantage of people the way he has.
Posted by Early on June 5, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to the money, did they seize his assets or giving him time to hide them. There is enough evidence to have seized immediately. Is this lady who,,,,went to the bathroom in on the deal?
Posted by beth1070 on June 5, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So where's the money? Nearly $300k doesn't just disappear. It's got to be someplace or there's got to be evidence of a large recent purchase. Give these people their hard earned money back. To hell with Greentree, they screw people out of money everyday, but they do it legally.
Posted by Larz13 on June 5, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a weasel. He and Al Parrish will be nice cellmates.
Posted by RTC on June 5, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel very badly for this young couple.
It appears that many people have been ripped off by this sleeze.
The big problem is, even if he goes to jail, these people will still be out of their money, while we pay for his food, lodging, and medical expenses.
It's just not fair that no restitution can be made.
Posted by MyHumbleOpinion on June 5, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to know this guy and he has been a POS for a long time. I feel so bad for all the people he has scammed and I guarantee you there are many, many other victims that may never surface. I hope he gets everything he deserves and more! I heard his wife has relatives in the BC court system. If so, I sure hope they don't help him out.
Posted by Girleygirl on June 5, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHy do I have the feeling this man is going to run off and not show up to his hearing? Sorry SOB!!!!
Posted by CaptPete on June 5, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you sell these type homes the state Lic requires you be bonded. I wonder if he has a valid lic to sell this product?
Posted by Mon_Kie on June 5, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If people who are defrauded would go to these crooks and take the situation in to their own hands right away, then scam artists would find another way to make a living, fast.
Posted by totallyshocked on June 5, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish we could really see both sides to this story. I have bought 2 homes from this man in the past with no problems at all. I do feel bad for the ones that have lost money, and hope there can be something done. I also hope the whole story comes out... I have heard COUNTLESS stories about how crappy of a company Greentree is. I cannot help but think they had something to do with this, and just the little man is going to have to pay the price!
Posted by candygirl on June 5, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The sad thing about this all is that nothing is going to happen to him. He will cry that he has mental problems (don't they all),the system will buy that ( like always) he will get credit for time served and he will be put on probation,then he will screw people over again,then the cycle will repeat itself.
Posted by Iknewyourdaywouldcome on June 5, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
10 years have passed...I've always believed the Lord takes care of things in time and that what goes around comes around. Well the day finally came! There the crook stood in his orange attire in front of the judge on the 11:00 news. MR. LIAR-CROOK-CALLNOBODYBACK BOZARD! You still owe me all the appliances that were to come with my home! But that's ok, in exchange I've settled for seeing you in your pretty orange suit! Im completely satisfied knowing you got caught for your wrong doings. I hope you get slammed good! This was worth the wait!
Posted by jammer on June 5, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
a redneck named Aquilla?? who's mistake was this???
he's definitely not from the books of Acts but rather from outer space...
I feel sorry for the ppl he took from
Posted by rollo on June 5, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Two words folks, "title attorney". Protect yourselves when making large purchases.
Posted by scottm53 on June 5, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sorry to hear this happened to you and all the others. I would like to tell you my story. My husband and I lost our home to fire December 28, 2003. After a year, we contracted with a "contractor" (now a known scam artist), to build a modular home from Mid-Atlantic Building Systems, Inc. aka MABS who sold out to Maximum Advantage Building Systems, Inc. in North Carolina. He had the foundation built wrong and many other things and in 2005 he just LEFT with our last large draw and disappeared. We think he has changed his name because he can't be found. We are in a lawsuit that is going nowhere so five years later my husband gave us his lifetime savings to pay to fix the errors and complete our home. Our mortgage company sold us to Wells Fargo and they will not release the last of OUR money because of the lawsuit. We are devastated, my husband is disabled, and we are still paying on the home that is no longer there along with our apartment rent payment. It is devastating because we have lost everything we worked so hard for in our life. We lived in this house for 30 years. The man's name is Paul Register Ransom that did this to us. If anyone knows him or where he is, please let us know. 843-568-2870. Thanks and I hope you find solution soon to your problem. At least you know where your man is....we are still looking for our guy.
Posted by geekguy2008 on June 6, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OMFG I went to High School with that dweeby f*ckoff! ROFL
JASON BOZARD!!!! HAHAHAHA