On September 6, 2006, John Mattes received national attention when he was attacked by two people while investigating an alleged real estate scam. He was injured with cracked ribs, bite wounds and cuts to his face. The attacking scene was caught on tape by his cameraman Dennis Waldrop.
While Mattes recovered, the couple that attacked him, Sam Suleiman and Rosa Barraza, faced multiple charges. One week after the attack, Mattes returned to XETV to do an investigative report on mortgage fraud.
Suleiman went on cable television and claimed he was the victim.
On September 12, the couple pled not guilty in a San Diego courtroom. Suleiman faced ten years and eight months for battery causing great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, making a criminal threat and intimidating a witness.
Suleiman got a plea bargain and served less than one year in jail. His wife got probation.
They have never been charged in the massive mortgage fraud scheme Mattes uncovered. All the properties Mattes revealed as linked to Sulieman have been foreclosed and not a dime ever recovered from the losses. Today Sulieman works as a “mortgage modification expert”.
Since the attack, Mattes has investigated and reported on numerous consumer schemes all over the country. His investigations have uncovered health Insurance scams, banking swindles, and mortgage modification shemes that have left homeowners defrauded and foreclosed. His reporting has garnered numerous Emmys and other awards for his stories.
yeah I remember these bottom feeders and when this happened in the news.
The plea bargain was a bit disappointing as was the probation.
Karma will eventually catch up with them…
Bernanke live press conf: We have told the banks to handle their REOs…..long pause………..in an economy supportive way.
Opps.
We he was GOING to say was “we have told the banks not to flood the market with REOs.”
‘Today Sulieman works as a “mortgage modification expert”.’
A perfect candidate!
FYI Sam Suleiman has been tracked down to Anaheim, CA. He now calls himself Sam Ricci and he is running a phony law firm by the name of Synergy Law Center – http://www.synergylawcenter.com/ 2400 E Katella Ave, Suite 800 Anaheim, California 92806 – (800)466-9174 – info@synergylawcenter.com – Cell # 949-566-7714?