Bountiful LLC / Redwood Trust

[February 16th, 2005] Facing foreclosure? Drowning in debt? Can't pay your bills? Don't despair—the god-fearing folks at this week's rogues, Bountiful LLC and its national parent group, Redwood Trust , can help—by handing out cash to "help relieve the suffering of American families."

All you need to do is (ahem!) pay an up-front fee of $2,000 to $5,000, or a small percentage of what you owe, and financial salvation is yours.

Multnomah County social worker Diana Forester was skeptical when she heard about the scheme from a 74-year-old woman she was caring for, who had given Bountiful $400.

In fact, according to a subsequent state investigation, Bountiful's only known sources of bounty are the suckers who pay their up-front fees. Bountiful representatives get a commission for signing people up—and so does founder Rex Haragan , 50, a Web designer living in Sherwood.

Since starting business in Oregon last May, Bountiful has not paid off any mortgages, the state found. Not only that, but Bountiful promised the impossible: that it could repair your credit "within a period of months, if not days."

Contacted by the Rogue Desk, Haragan would say only: "We're being accused of things we didn't do."

State spokesman Steve Corson says there are at least five victims in Oregon, including some who were evicted after they paid their fees to Bountiful. And that may be just the start, Corson says: "They were very active in Oregon."

Redwood Trust, according to its website, describes itself as "a Christian based organization" headed by a "Trustee/Pastor" named Ken Titus. Redwood and Bountiful are currently the target of a mail-fraud investigation by the U.S. Postal Service and, according to their website (www.redwoodtrust.net), have ceased operations.

Amazingly, however, they still want your money—for their "legal defense."