WKSU News: The Scorched Earth of Evergreen

The Accused

Name a court and David Willan and his Evergreen companies have likely been dragged into it. Criminal, civil, bankruptcy, even divorce cases all weave together claims that the 37-year-old Willan engineered a scam to pocket millions " and that cost others throughout northeastern Ohio their homes and life savings. In the criminal case, he has 16 co-defendents and faces more than 300 years in prison. In the first part of our series on a mortgage-fraud case that's drawn national attention, we take a look at the varying views of David Willan...

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The Investigators

It started with a stolen credit card, phony license plates, and a burned-out house in Cuyahoga Falls. In our series on the multi-million dollar fraud case against Evergreen companies, WKSU's M.L. Schultze talks with the state task force investigators who spent more than two years on the case.

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The Homeowners

Nearly half of the homes in Cuyahoga, Summit and Stark counties handled by Evergreen companies are in foreclosure. Prosecutors attribute that to fraud. Attorneys for Evergreen's former chief attribute that to the market. In part three of our series, we talk with to three of the past and present, homeowners living with the scorched earth of Evergreen.

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The Investors

It's pretty clear that the members of the Barberton Civitan Club didn't know they were getting into the strip-club business. Nor did elderly investors like Bob Pope and the hundreds of other northeastern Ohioans who put as much as 258 thousand dollars into Evergreen investments. In our series on the multi-million fraud case against David Willan and the other people who ran the northeastern Ohio company, we explore the money behind Evergreen.

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The Neighborhoods

When the companies known as Evergreen Investments and Homes hit bankruptcy last April, they owned more than 300 homes, partially completed homes and vacant lots in Cuyahoga, Summit and Stark counties. That doesn't include hundreds more homes Evergreen sold over the last six years that are in foreclosure. Many of those properties are clustered in urban-core neighborhoods. In the last of our series on the the multi-million dollar fraud case against the northeastern Ohio company, WKSU's M.L. Schultze takes a look the neighborhoods left behind.

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Evergreen Homes and its predecessor, Summit Redevelopment, began by doing rehabilitation of existing homes and reselling them. But as it matured, Evergreen began with new construction homes, mostly in older neighbhorhoods in cities such as Akron, Barberton and Cleveland. Here are some of those homes that are in foreclosure in Summit County.

Listener Comments:

Where do I start? Leaky, moldy basement

Posted by: crable (canton) on November 10, 2008 4:08AM

What company did the title agency and/or Evergreen use to underwrite and insure these properties? Were there Title Insurance Policies in place for these properties?

Posted by: Just Curious (Akron) on March 9, 2008 4:37PM

He did not make bail. I believe the plane you are speaking of was co-owned with another pilot. I think the saddest part is those who were in it up to their necks with him who have turned against him to save their own hides. I do believe predetory lending is the real issue and it is wrong but people you need to do your research! If all the houses surrounding yours are appraising at $15,000 and yours is going for $60,000 there might be an issue. Be smart. If it sounds to good to be true then it probably isnt. And no matter what the quality of construction, you have to keep putting into and take care of your home or it will fall apart. thats a fact of life.

Posted by: Former (Friend) on March 1, 2008 1:21AM

Save Dave!

Posted by: Local (Akron) on February 27, 2008 1:29PM

I was wondering if he had one. Drop a note to the bankruptcy trustee.

Posted by: Airplane (Akron) on February 18, 2008 4:52PM

Where is his airplane that he kept at Kent state airport

Posted by: concerned (akron) on February 16, 2008 10:42PM

just sad

Posted by: robert (akron) on February 15, 2008 10:28PM

This series has been excellent! I read today that Dave Willan made bail. Is this true? Do you have any insight as to whom it was that came up with the money / collateral?

Posted by: Former Employee (Akron, OH) on February 15, 2008 2:49PM

Carl- I understand where you're coming from and you have a valid point. Unfortunately, one of the problems with Evergreen was the manner in which he sold houses. Further, he would often buy a house and "rehab" the property, cosmetic coats and quick fixes to get the house through the sale process and then let it fall apart. Deceptive practices tend to put the buyers in dire straits. As well, the buyers Dave focused on for his property were not typical home buyers. Most had never owned a home and shouldn't have been placed in one as they could not afford to take care of the problems you discussed. You seem like a knowledgeable person that takes care of business. If you have never had the experience nor education (homebuying education) to deal with such problems with the foresight yo seem to possess, it could be an entirely different story.

Posted by: Just Desserts (Akron) on February 14, 2008 11:04AM

In various newspaper articles and now in this on-air story it's been reported that Willan paid his ex-wife alimony of up to $16,000 a month! Check your facts. Not one penny of alimony has EVER been paid. Not one penny! She is just one of the many victims in all of this.

Posted by: Reckford (Cleveland) on February 14, 2008 8:02AM

I've owned two homes now, and I've found that problems come with any home. I've had leaky basement walls, mold, cracks in ceilings and walls, leaky windows, broken window springs, moisture between sealed window panes, cracks in exterior walls, problems with drains, problems with septic systems, leaking roofs. You name it, home ownership comes with it. No doubt few of the Evergreen buyers used an inspectors service ($$$), nor bought any homeowners insurance. Bottom line: I think the predatory lending practices are the real misdeed done here, not the problems with the properties.

Posted by: Carl (Rittman) on February 13, 2008 8:35PM

Finally he'll be getting what he deserves.

Posted by: Just Desserts (Akron, OH) on February 12, 2008 11:44PM

The new home you describe in the second segment was constructed by Fred Ayers. Fred contracted with Willan to build a number of homes. He has the ability to sweep things under the rug with the building department that normally would not pass code. Evergreen Builders was responsible for the last homes built was held to a much higher standard by both the building department and the Evergreen Builders staff.

Posted by: Former Employee (Akron, OH) on February 12, 2008 11:06AM