Two plead guilty in massive DuPage mortgage scam

Two DuPage County women face mandatory prison time after admitting Monday to running a massive mortgage scam that defrauded homeowners in two states, prosecutors said.

Patricia Johnson, 57, of Naperville, and Pamela Williams, 58, of Darien, pleaded guilty in DuPage County to 10 counts each of felony theft.

Prosecutors said Johnson and Williams stole millions while operating PLM Title Co. in Wheaton. When clients closed on a home purchase or refinance, the pair would wire the money into an escrow account and then use it for personal or business expenses, rather than paying the mortgage holder, prosecutors said.

The scheme, which took place from November 2007 to April 2008, began to unravel after an attorney for one of the victims contacted Wheaton police. Prosecutors said additional victims were found across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, many of them now stuck with two mortgages.

“For six months, Pamela Williams and Patricia Johnson were living the good life on someone else’s dime,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release. “They left their victims holding the bag for two mortgages while they padded their own bank accounts.”

Both Johnson and Williams had been scheduled to stand trail this week on a 55-count indictment, but instead pleaded guilty as jury selection was about to begin Monday. Authorities said the women each face mandatory prison terms of four to 15 years, and must serve a minimum of two. Their next court appearance is April 28 in front of Judge John Kinsella.

Berlin credited Wheaton police detectives Dave Zdan and Steve Hamill for the investigation that led to charges, and prosecutors Diane Michalak and William Wu for their work on “this complicated case.”