Jackson Jambalaya

Update on the Colson fraud story posted yesterday:

Another family apparently was victimized by Colson's alleged misdeeds:
"GAUTIER — After pumping nearly $100,000 into the purchase and renovation of a house, members of a Mississippi family now fear problems with the title company they used means they don't legally own the place.
Their title company is one of four owned by Stephen Colson — which includes Mobile-based Prestige Title of Alabama — that have been targeted by a federal lawsuit filed by a title insurance underwriter.
Donna and David Anderson, who have lived in Gautier for 18 years, helped their daughter, Destiny Anderson, and her fiancé, Christopher Peterson, purchase a house in the city's Point Clear subdivision Feb. 5.
The Andersons used a certified check for $82,000 to purchase the house, Donna Anderson said, but learned later that the check from her title company was returned by Countrywide, the mortgage holder.
"Now we're not even sure if we really own the house, and we've already put $15,000 into fixing it up," she said. "Our agent told us that the title company we used is being sued and that the check came back because the owner's accounts were frozen."......"

Unfortunately they are not alone as the Mobile Press-Register reports there might be more victims:
"Kenny Smith, who owns four Coldwell Banker realty offices in Jackson County, said he's received calls from about 12 clients so far.
"I've never heard of this before," Smith said. "There'll be others probably."
Smith said his offices are telling clients to hire attorneys and contact Fidelity National Corp., which owns Lawyers Title Insurance Corp. and is handling the claims. "That's all we can really tell them at this point," he said........"
Mobile Press-Register article

Please tell me we are not getting to the point where real estate attorneys are going to have to start paying in cash instead of checks.

What is also sad for my LSU brethren is Colson apparently represents several former LSU players currently in the NFL. His website lists: Andrew Whitworth, Stephen Peterman, Kendrick Allen, Rodney Reed, and Bennie Brazell. The rumor on the Coast is his clients had approximately $2 million with him that is probably gone. Prestige Sports Management website