INDIANAPOLIS — Attorney General Todd Rokita announced today that his office agreed to permanently ban a bogus South Bend landlord from dealing in real estate and provide restitution to a tenant whose home was taken from her in a “tax sale rescue” scheme.
Rokita’s Homeowner Protection Unit secured a monetary judgment of more than a quarter-million dollars (plus yearly interest) against a “landlord” who allegedly demanded rent and tried evicting tenants from properties he did not even own.
“I would like to thank Ms. Marlena Elias for her courage in fighting this despicable conduct as well as the Notre Dame Clinical Law Center and Program Director David Pruitt, who assisted our office in pursuing this investigation and resolution,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We often rely on our legal services partners and others who so selflessly represent Hoosiers who do not normally have a voice in our judicial system to bring bad actors to justice.”
On Nov. 30, 2023, Attorney General Rokita announced the filing of a civil complaint against defendants Steven Kollar, American Realty Investments LLC, and GR Housing LLC, alleging that the Defendants conspired to defraud a Saint Joseph County woman by offering to save her home from a tax sale, rehab it, and split the proceeds of a sale with her. Kollar was to have paid to redeem the property from a tax sale, but he then converted the woman’s real property to his use.
Kollar then sold the property to another business, for which he was also a part owner, and obtained a loan to rehab the property, using it as collateral. He refused to unwind the transaction after the owner complained and ultimately paid the consumer nothing for the property.
The suit resulted in a monetary judgment against Kollar for $252,837.50. The Court issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Kollar from further soliciting Hoosiers whose properties are subject to tax sale proceedings, engaging in further home solicitation sales, engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and a ban on his serving as a trustee for any trust formed under the laws of the State of Indiana.
The remaining defendants agreed to pay restitution to the consumer through an agreed judgment in the amount of $80,000 for the fair market value of the property, as well as reimburse the Homeowner Protection Unit for $8,000 in costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.
“I would also like to thank Deputy Attorney General Regan Perrodin and HPU Investigator Molly Jefford for their respective roles in resolving this matter,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are lucky to have public servants like them working every day to ensure that our office does everything we can to protect Hoosier homeowners.”
Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General about any suspected scams or attempts. Consumers can file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516.
The Final Amended Order of Default and Final Consent Judgment are attached.
