SALISBURY, Md. - Controversy surrounds a local businessman and candidate for Pocomoke City Mayor.
Frank J. Ward, III is under investigation for allegations of mortgage fraud. The Commissioner of Financial Regulation issued Ward, his companies: The Money Centre, Ltd. & Ward Construction, Inc., and his employee: Annette Coston, a Summary Order to Cease and Desist. It states, "The Commissioner developed reasonable grounds to believe that the Respondents provided unlicensed mortgage lending, brokering, and loan origination services related to Maryland residential real property involving Maryland consumers, and engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme..."
The Commissioner's investigation, which began last June --- is now looking into all 23 of Ward's mortgage loans involving Maryland property. Vicki & Lloyd Ivey are one of the 5 parties officially accusing Ward of mortgage fraud. "I gave that man my hard earned money, " says Vicki Ivey. "I just want it all clear. I just want my home in the guidelines it's supposed to be." The Ivey's say 2 years ago they signed loan paperwork with The Money Centre in Salisbury to have Ward's construction company build their home in Princess Anne. It wasn't until last year, that they say they noticed something was off. The loan was not showing up on their credit report. Ivey went to the State Attorney General's Office with this information.
WMDT spoke with Maryland Attorney General, Doug Gansler. "When there's extraordinary economic times, as we've sort of gone through in the last few years, many people break the rules and they do it more often actually. So mortgage fraud's an issue. Medicaid fraud's an issue. Just corporate fraud, in general, is an issue."
A hearing is scheduled for Ward to appear before an administrative law judge on March 22nd through the 23rd.
Ward is on the ballot for Pocomoke City Mayor. The city election is Tuesday, April 5.
WMDT went to the Money Centre to talk to Ward --- who declined an on camera interview. He and his attorney say they deny all the allegations.
VIA: WMDT47
Editors note; It's fairly clear that Ward is a planted candidate that is in place to absorb votes.
Frank J. Ward, III is under investigation for allegations of mortgage fraud. The Commissioner of Financial Regulation issued Ward, his companies: The Money Centre, Ltd. & Ward Construction, Inc., and his employee: Annette Coston, a Summary Order to Cease and Desist. It states, "The Commissioner developed reasonable grounds to believe that the Respondents provided unlicensed mortgage lending, brokering, and loan origination services related to Maryland residential real property involving Maryland consumers, and engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme..."
The Commissioner's investigation, which began last June --- is now looking into all 23 of Ward's mortgage loans involving Maryland property. Vicki & Lloyd Ivey are one of the 5 parties officially accusing Ward of mortgage fraud. "I gave that man my hard earned money, " says Vicki Ivey. "I just want it all clear. I just want my home in the guidelines it's supposed to be." The Ivey's say 2 years ago they signed loan paperwork with The Money Centre in Salisbury to have Ward's construction company build their home in Princess Anne. It wasn't until last year, that they say they noticed something was off. The loan was not showing up on their credit report. Ivey went to the State Attorney General's Office with this information.
WMDT spoke with Maryland Attorney General, Doug Gansler. "When there's extraordinary economic times, as we've sort of gone through in the last few years, many people break the rules and they do it more often actually. So mortgage fraud's an issue. Medicaid fraud's an issue. Just corporate fraud, in general, is an issue."
A hearing is scheduled for Ward to appear before an administrative law judge on March 22nd through the 23rd.
Ward is on the ballot for Pocomoke City Mayor. The city election is Tuesday, April 5.
WMDT went to the Money Centre to talk to Ward --- who declined an on camera interview. He and his attorney say they deny all the allegations.
VIA: WMDT47
Editors note; It's fairly clear that Ward is a planted candidate that is in place to absorb votes.
Now THAT is funny! Not unexpected, but still funny.
ReplyDeleteThe investigation began LAST June? Now really-who in their right mind whether guilty or not guilty would run for public office while under investigation?
ReplyDeleteAnd PPE if he were planted by someone to absorb votes than Ward's dumber than a fence post for allowing it.
So "extraordinary economic times" caused this man to do this??
ReplyDeleteThen what "caused" him to want to run for mayor of Pocomoke?
This seems a little odd. This investigation has been going on since June and no one has known about it until now, just a few weeks from the city election.
heard the cease & desist was filed only friday. if found guilty of that can he run in the State of Maryland for any office?
ReplyDeletehe tried to 'postpone' the March 22/23 hearing til after elections.
ReplyDeleteMy this is a sad story for these people if true.
why wasnt the loan showing up?
ReplyDeletePocomoke Public Eye, if indeed true, who would plant a candidate to absorb votes and why?
ReplyDeletehey was Morrison in real estate and the former partner, a too-be-son-in-law, allegedly left town owing money? wonder who he owed it to? the bank? the town? and if so, wonder what would happen to that if he got in office. Interesting.
ReplyDeletewould like to hear from Ward as to who encouraged him to run. That will be key.
ReplyDeletesomeone said he plays poker with someone from city hall? did this person encourage him? someone did.
also if he works 40+ hours in salisubry and owns a construction company, he doenst have time to be our mayor.
ok so heard these people were trying to go to news but were being stopped. who would want this kind of story to stop? maybe same person stopping other candidates from being able to run their articles they filed - Brittingham and Duffy stories were stopped. Yet Morrison and Malloy had separate stories written by same person and published on them filing to run. Morrison's article talked about pocomoke but not much about him. is media really this controled? yet all council members have Morrison signs. just seems odd.
ReplyDeleteeven a NAACP prior candidate, Cottman, has a Morrison sign and her husband was seen campaigning for Ward in front of postoffice blocking the entrance.
ReplyDeletedont anyone deny it either. Lee told me himself that he promised her grandmother to back her.
ReplyDeletequestioned him at the elections and he said that.
ReplyDeleteQuestion now is, where is Lee and was he behind this, or someone else in city hall.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:46 Who WOULD want this kind of story stopped? You talk like you know alot and say so little. No one is stopping anyone from saying anything.
ReplyDeleteI would hardly call those stories that were run in the paper about Morrison and Malloy. And why can't the council have Morrison signs in their yards if they want them? What's so odd about that?
Since Ward's story has been released guess Morrison's campaign will go directly after Duffy. She's only candidate not backed by a special interest group and running for open government.
ReplyDeleteLots of things have been said about the others running for office. Is Duffy the only one who doesn't have any skeletons? Maybe she is a planted candidate
ReplyDeletesince she seems so perfect.
11:53pm that was the 'title' of the article if you read them.
ReplyDeleteby your question of why cant the council have signs? guess you are one of them.
Thats a good one. Voters should elect someone the council and government does not want.
ReplyDeleteKnew he was a plant when he told a minister that if his running helped Morrison he was ok with that. what a shame and disgrace to let his own race down like thatas a pawn.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what happens at the hearing this week, I wont vote Ward.
ReplyDeleteone question is there are at least three developments with Ward involved with them. Wonder how deep current government is involved with him.
ReplyDeleteDoes this need to be looked into?
He bought Jenkins Orchard, the development off of Cedar behind the Firehouse (hhmmm wonder if any connection there!), one off 10th street, and does he have any involvement in one across from high school?
Bet current government would not like this but looks like this needs to be investigated.
What is it called when money is taken from one alleged illegal business to another?
ReplyDeleteThe attorney geneneral's statement is disappointing of "many people break the rules". I don't believe this.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to the homes and loans if hes found guilty at next week's hearing? What will happen to the people?
But 11:28 am is right. Needs to be investigated here.
Whoever you are.. Posting a few dozen posts at a time. GET A LIFE. Stop with your rambling paranoid conspiracy theories. You need psychiatric help, SERIOUSLY.
ReplyDeleteAnd FYI, the development behind the firehouse started YEARS before the fire company acquired the old Meatland. So take your conspiracy theory and SHOVE IT. We have a wonderful fire company and I'm sick of you trying to drag them into your paranoia.
It's obvious you are someone close to Duffy or maybe even Duffy herself, you're not fooling anyone. Get help. Your constant rambling shows someone in need of mental help, no joke.
Development may have been started BY SOMEONE ELSE but OWNED now by WARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY. There are signs, READ THE SIGNS!
ReplyDeletehere is a little more reading for you, too, its on line. Notice it says the investigation concluded. Some one needs to check better who is filing.
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/finance/consumers/pdf/frankjwardiiic&d.pdf
1:51 pm You sound familiar. Someone who won't deal with facts or issues. Just like to poke fun at people. People are tired of this mess and can read. Deal with the facts.
ReplyDeleteUntil our government is changed this mess won't stop.
Wonder how many government and town council persons knew he was not licensed. This could be really bad.
1:51 No one said anything about the firecompany. Get a grip.
ReplyDeleteWe question our government.
11:28 questioned if there was any connection to to fire department 3:04 so you get a grip!
ReplyDeleteThanks 3:10, here's the 'facts' for 3:04.
ReplyDeleteFrom the ramblings of the insane:
"the development off of Cedar behind the Firehouse (hhmmm wonder if any connection there!)"
Let's through slander and conspiracy around. Just like the good ole days with the Tattler, eh?
Obviously, don't vote for Ward. Duffy's supporters' massive blog commenting are kind of worrisome.
Instead of writing one big comment, lets spread it out into ten consecutive posts to make it look like a lot of people are asking these questions! That'll convince people we're right!
3:21 PM
ReplyDeleteBINGO!!! I've not seen a good point or a true fact yet!
Duffy's aligned herself with the Salisbury Grinch so if history repeats itself she will lose. I'm still hearing from some of the Todd supporters how the handful of that blog's followers lost the election for Todd.
ReplyDelete4:17pm duffy hasn't aligned herself. why don't YOU STOP falsely accusing people of things they dont do.
ReplyDeleteWHY NOT GROW UP AND DEAL WITH THE ISSUES.
Really. We only want to read about the issues. This pettiness between people in this town has got to stop.
ReplyDeleteFocus on the issues.
There is a simple solution to all the rumors: Saturday 19th, 2011, (10:00 am) at the Pocomoke City Library, there will be a public meeting. If your candidate arrives ask he/she about their issues and your concerns and what would they do. If your candidate does not show up, then he/she does not care about you or Pocomoke. Saturday is a day to end all the gossip and finger pointing. Most important is that if “YOU” the voter does not participate in the public meeting, “Please” stop hiding behind the word anonymous, and then spread rumors and lies about things you do not know. PLEASE ATTEND
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:57
ReplyDeleteSo if a candidate doesn't show up tomorrow then they don't care. And if a citizen doesn't show up to ask the candidate then they don't care either? Not sure of that logic but maybe it will work for you.
Sounds like a big waste of a morning......trying to figure out who said what and what is and isn't gossip. That's enough to change peoples minds right there.
OMG!!!! Duffy has SO aligned herself with the Salisbury Grinch!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete8:24pm dont falsely accuse Duffy unless to talk to her.
ReplyDeleteThere is already an individual who has gone up to one of her campaign team members making allegations and slanderous statements (a morrison supporter) with his sign about Duffy's business. The individual needs to cease.
So if you do/dont show up to tomorrow's meeting then you do/dont care? what about all the previous eight, NO EIGHT MEETINGS? so if someone didnt show up, to those, they dont care? that's the whole town council.
What a bunch of mudslingers.
ReplyDeletePlease stick to the issues.
Or the site isn't worth the time.
So far duffy is only candidate with a vision or a plan. other candidates didn't even bother to respond to PPE questions.
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for candidate who believes in open government and wants to fight this crime.
I don't need to ask Duffy anything!!!! And I am not "falsely accusing" her of anything! The facts speak for themself! She IS in bed with the Salisbury Grinch-----end of story!!!!
ReplyDeleteHold on a minute people! Let me set somethng straight. Tom did a good thing in posting those question to the candidates. Simply because none of the other candidates did not respond is NO reason to look down upon them.
ReplyDeleteJudging from the activity on here the past few days I can't say I even blame them. There is never any guarantee that either of them reads this blog. That said, I still can't blame for not posting their views.
It wouldn't matter to any of you what they said. It wouldn't matter one bit. With the exception of Mr. Ward, EACH person running for an office is a good, kind person. But it is because ALL of you can hide behind the feedom of anymous you chose to leave you sickening gossip here.
All of us are grown adults but what I have been reading reminds me of a group of school kids. You don't want to hear the good in any of the other candidates. You just want to hear and be able to remark upon the bad.
And to 8:50 PM. You couldn't resiste bringing Morrison into the picture. I would suggest that you and Ms. Duffy just chuck that crap off. It's an election......act like you could care less. Stop making a big deal out of the situation.
I wish you all could stick those signs where the sun doesn't shine! Get over it and act like adults.
Whatever happened to the 'friendliest town on the eastern shore'? Wish people would leave signs alone. People paid good money for them.
ReplyDeletewhatever happened to the issues?
ReplyDeletems. duffy is her daughter, Dr. Duffy is the candidate for Mayor.
ReplyDelete9:37 Thankyou for that little bit of info. Rest assured that after a day like today with these comments I don't care who is who.
ReplyDeleteThen again, I guess I was speaking to both.
And as far as whatever happened to Pocomoke being the "friendliest town"? It still is. It will always be. Some people make it difficult for others to see that sometimes.
Agree with your last sentence JMMB.
ReplyDeleteLet's keep this to the issues.
ReplyDeleteFood for thought:
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe but many people do not read the blogs because of the nasty comments and fictional reports. Perhaps that is the reason that only one candidate answered the questions that were presented.
You have a nice small town, but I wonder what people think when they google Pocomoke and the first things that pop up are negative blogs?
Tomorrow's meeting is not about meeting the candidates, taking role call or analyzing the motives or personal time of the persons who attend. It is simply one of a continuing series of meetings meant for discussing the crime problems in the town.
It is important to know that Pocomoke's Mayor cannot vote on the issues. That said, the most important role of mayor will be to be a leader with exemplerary people skills.
Pocomoke's mayor needs to be a person everyone can look up to. The mayor needs to be kind, thoughtful, giving, & emotionally stable. The mayor needs a professional demeanor so they can meet, greet and listen to the various people who come through, whether they are other government officials, potential business leaders, or newcomers to the town.
The best mayor will have a record of community service, is a volunteer, an active church member, has family stability, and demonstated values. The best mayor is someone who can communicate clearly in writing or in spoken word.
At this time, I have not seen a discussion of the above qualities of any candidate in this, or any blog.
What I have seen is a dirty laundry list of reasons NOT to run for office in Pocomoke City!
Its time now to stop the Soap Opera Digest and tune in to the Discovery Network!
Response to first post, no its not funny, it is sad. very sad.
ReplyDeleteNext this site will be blaming Duffy for people messing with her signs.
Well said MLS. Amen!
ReplyDeleteThe story isn't a fictional report. Don't discredit the individuals who have suffered.
ReplyDeleteWhat person doesnt pay for their own mothers funeral?
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world.
MLS - Thankyou for your post. You wrote the truth. And I have always said that the majority of Pocomoke people don't read any blogs because of the comment content. Until people start stand behind what they say and publish their name it will continue.
ReplyDeletePocomoke is a wonderful place. Many people there have made sure of that and have worked hard for years to make it and to keep it a beautiful town. It just needs a little work. The people of Pocomoke will get to it......I just don't know when.
Thankyou again for commenting....
Thanks indeed, but there is much more needed in a mayor especially in today's world. A mayor needs vision and a strategy. In Pocomoke City, we are experiencing significant businesses leaving, a lack of cohesion, and in the midst of serious economic hardship.
ReplyDeleteA leader today needs education and training, in addition to, altruism, integrity and interpersonal skills.
Those not trained to assess & evaluate mental status, should not do so, as this is illegal aside from judgemental.
ReplyDelete9:21.. Let me refer you to the 1st Amendment and something called personal opinion, and my freedom to be judgmental if I so choose. I can believe someone is crazy and needs mental help, but unfortunately you're right I can't diagnose them and prescribe them some help.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take a professional to see someone's not all there and could use some help, but obviously I can't provide it.
I doubt if Ward will get many votes. Of course there are some uninformed voters who will still vote for him but for the most part the man's finished. It's a shame if these allegations turn out to be true. I hate to see someone who could have had a great business turn to shady deals.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteDuffy's aligned herself with the Salisbury Grinch so if history repeats itself she will lose. I'm still hearing from some of the Todd supporters how the handful of that blog's followers lost the election for Todd.
4:17:00 PM
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I don't think Duffy has "aligned herself with the salisbury grinch" I do think he is steeling material to post and that Dr. Duffy should publicly denounce that hate site.
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Anonymous said...
Whatever happened to the 'friendliest town on the eastern shore'? Wish people would leave signs alone. People paid good money for them.
9:34:00 PM
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comeheres................ J/K
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11:15:00 PM
I somewhat agree, and I hope you are NOT referring to this blog as "nasty" or "fictional". That is one of the reasons that this blog was created, I was sick and tired of the other hate filled blogs that never had anything good to say about Pocomoke. We also do our best to verify each and every article that we publish, sure we mess-up and let one or two get by us sometimes by not doing enough research and when that happens we will let the readers know if it's brought to our attention.
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11:15:00 PM
"This site" will do no such thing, now there may be some comments that do but this site will not ever do any such thing to ANYONE without 100% proof.
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RE: 11:29:00 AM
Ward will get just enough votes to swing the votes, mark my word on that.... unless he bows out like he should do because of this latest news.
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RE: 11:29:00 AM
if Ward was any dumber we'd have to water him
Dr. Duffy would not dennounce a blog, no more than she would a person in Pocomoke City. For you to think in this manner, displays fact you don't KNOW her; you only know OF her. She is one who does her best to walk peacefully with everyone for resolution whether a blogger or a resident in Pocomoke City; nor is she a gossiper OR judgemental person. ~Live in Peace.
ReplyDeleteYes Miss Duffy has a past, and people in pocomoke need to find out about her. Just call crisfield and ask people over there about Duffy,and the money she stole from kids parants buying dance clothes for there kids,that she when on a cruise with the money and her daddy had to go and pay all the parents back. How can she run a town when she can run her own life, is it four or five fail marriages.
ReplyDeleteYou would think Dr Duffy would dennounce that other blog not in a hateful way but in the way a woman of God would. That blog has said the most hateful things (all mostly lies) about Mike McDermott, Reggie Mason, Beau Oglesby and now Bruce Morrison just to name a few.
ReplyDeletePlus Jonathan Taylor is friends with the Burke's who for years have done nothing but run people through the ringer.
Okay 4:04 your post is unfair and is exactly the type of accusation and allegation that goes on over on the grinch site. What's important are the issues at hand not what someone may have done 100 years ago.
ReplyDeleteRE: 4:00:00 PM
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, I do not know Dr. Duffy on a personal level other than the fact that I went to school with her in the same class. not being "a gossiper OR judgmental" [sic] would be all the more reason TO denounce that lie and hate blog
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RE: 4:04:00 PM
your comment is a borderline personal attack, the reason that anyone has been through different marriages is;
A) that they could have been in abusive relationships etc.
B) frankly, none of anyone's business
as for your comment about "money she stole from kids parants" [sic] please do not make comments like that without proof. This type of comment is not welcome here on PPE, if it continues you will force me to start moderating comments.
4:04 pm Wow. The personal attacks have now begun on Dr. Duffy.
ReplyDeletePlease get your facts straight. No. She never went on a cruise with any parent's money. Duffy has been on one her entire life and was 11 years later after owning a dance studio. "Her daddy" didn't pay for anything related to her prior business or this. As far as 4or 5 marriages, you are wrong.
Most importantly, "take the rod from thine own eye first".
Sounds alot like the individual who spoke with one of the campaign team making slanderous statements about her business. Please cease. You and this blog will be held responsible for such slanderous statements.
What bothers me about this whole thing is some of these posts seem like they have to be Duffy or by someone very close to her, yet its being done anonymously. That's no way to run a campaign if so. PPE.. Is there anyway you can check the anon IP addresses vs. the posts signed by Duffy (I.E. The questionnaire)?
ReplyDeleteMy neighborhood has been a quiet one for the last 10 years, until the past year. We have had 3 thefts and now one burglary. My neighbors have been stolen from and all kinds of illegal activity up and down the Street. Nothing has been solved on real police interest at all. The murder and stabbings grow monthly. Lets talk about what our next Mayor is gonna do about that or will he just be another to line his pockets and stick his head in the sand...Mr Mayor and Mr Future Mayor GET THE PICTURE OR WE WILL FIND ONE THAT DOES!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete