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Andrea Bitely
Megan Hawthorne
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 25, 2017

Schuette: Disbarred Oakland County Attorney

Sentenced to up to 15 years in Prison One Year After
Release From Jail in Fake Mortgage Scheme
Steven Ruzas sentence is the second stemming from a 2015 case
involving Fake Mortgage Assistance

LANSING Michigan Attorney General today announced that Steven Ruza, 54, of Shelby
Township was sentenced by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina in the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham
County to 2.5 to 15 years in prison on one count of intent to pass false title and 2.5 to 6 years on
one count of falsely certifying a drivers license. Ruza was sentenced as a second habitual
offender.

Todays sentencing brings to a close a long and winding road of criminal activity by Mr.
Ruza, said Schuette. I hope he has learned there are consequences for actions and that this
serves as an example for others that breaking the law not once, but twice, for personal financial
gains has consequences.

Through a plea agreement, Ruza pleaded guilty to two of four charged felonies on September 13,
2017.

Ruza was initially charged in July 2017. Those charges were filed after it was discovered that he
had committed identity theft to hide assets that could be used for restitution to the Michigan
Department of Attorney General. Ruza owes $348,025.50 in restitution to the Departments
Foreclosure Rescue Scam Victim Restitution Fund from his previous conviction in 2015 of
conducting a criminal enterprise for running a bogus mortgage scheme.
Case Background

In 2015, Ruza and his business were charged with multiple felonies for stealing hundreds of
thousands of dollars from his clients who were facing mortgage foreclosures and seeking
assistance. He pleaded guilty to Conducting a Criminal Enterprise in 2015 and was sentenced to
one year in county jail, five years probation, and ordered to pay $610,000 in
restitution. $250,000 was paid to the victims and the other $360,000 was owed to the State of
Michigan. Ruzas victims were repaid at the time of Ruzas guilty plea through Michigans
Foreclosure Rescue Scam Victim Restitution Fund, meaning the restitution he owes must now
be paid back to the state. Ruza was disbarred as an attorney after his initial conviction.

In 2017, the Department received information that Ruza had hidden a large sum of money. The
Attorney Generals Corporate Oversight Division began an investigation into the matter. The
investigation found Steven Ruza had obtained a Michigan Drivers license in December 2016
with his photo but someone elses name. He obtained the license using the birth certificate of the
individual whose identity he stole.

Further investigation showed Ruza falsified information on a car title application with the state.
The title claim form states Ruza purchased a used vehicle for $500 but in reality, he paid
thousands of dollars in cash for the car.

At this time, Ruza still owes $348,025.50 in restitution. He is currently imprisoned, serving a
sentence of 40 months to twenty years imprisonment for violating probation related to the 2015
Conducting a Criminal Enterprise conviction.

Todays sentence will be served concurrently with his probation violation sentence.

Foreclosure Rescue Scam Victim Restitution Fund

In August 2013 Schuette announced the launch of a $7.5 million Foreclosure Rescue Scam
Victim Restitution fund as a part of the Homeowner Protection Fund monies received by the
State of Michigan to resolve the National Mortgage Settlement. This program is intended to
provide restitution payments for victims of foreclosure scams who would otherwise never see a
penny of court-ordered restitution. To date, over $4.1 million has been paid to Michigan victims
of mortgage related crimes.

For more information on the mortgage settlement, including a Consumer Alert and a Frequently
Asked Questions document available for download, visit the Attorney Generals website.