Perrysburg Blog

John Ulmer was sentenced to prison yesterday.  The Blade had the story.

Ulmer was the criminal mastermind behind “The Westhaven Group”.

You can substitute the name Madoff, Transcontinental Savings, Bell & Beckwith, etc. for Westhaven.  They all work the same.   Someone who is wicked and venal and selfish gets control of someones money.  Then they spend it on themselves.

A Crime of Persuasion.

Where a bank robber uses a gun, Ulmer used his tongue.  To separate the money from the victim he promised and sold and scammed and lied.  And it seems to work.

In Perrysburg the Westhaven Group had a few homes.  Bought with stolen money they then rented them out to people who could never hope to qualify to own them.   With no real equity or ownership stake, some of them fell into disrepair.

And since Westhaven/Ulmer was operating during a “hot market”, the owner homes that seemed to be able to be used by him with his crooked owner financing scheme were homes that were critically flawed or had some other sales-killing problem.

I met some of these “owners” – they were also victims too.   Whatever they paid is gone and their supposed ownership interest never existed.   No one used a lawyer.  No one used title insurance.  No one used a good agent.

My experience is that real estate deals that EXCLUDE title exams, good attorneys, good agents, and daylight and that “breaking” the norms of the current market are just those deals that need close and careful examination.

Ulmer?  10 years in prison.

We’ll see.  I have learned that if you have really good and expensive lawyers, you tend to get a better deal in court.   I am sure that he has good ones. And well paid ones.   In the Westhaven saga, it seems that everyone is getting paid . . . but the ripped off investors.

What is even more sad is that all throughout the trial, investigation, etc. I believe the Ulmer has been still selling his skills and tools to the public.

Imagine that.  The audacity.

Looking at his website is an amazing experience.

I think this quote from Ulmer is award winning: “The only thing that separates you from money is knowledge. I have knowledge, that is why I have money.”

The spinning logo of money on his face:  perhaps the most honest thing in the website.

He has plenty of endorsements on the “Testimonial” page!

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated you instruction, helpfulness, and hospitality. This was my first real estate seminar I’ve attended. I was not sure what to expect, but some friends had clued me in on how some seminars are merely a vehicle to sell more products. I can truly say that the weekend was one of learning and growing for myself and for my company. Your way of doing our business is one to closely pattern, and I intend to do just that with my new year and a half old company.
- Michael Eigsti, Midland MI

I sure hope that Michael did not mean that – unless he wants to go to jail too!

And until recently you could still sign up for a seminar.

I have a feeling Ulmer’s next seminar will be during visiting hours.

At a prison.

Don’t look for restitution.   The money is “gone” (I mean hidden in the Turks and Caicos!)

And don’t look for shame.

Ulmer cannot blush.