Conn. man, daughter facing federal charges

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man and his daughter have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly taking advantage of struggling homeowners with a fraudulent debt-elimination scheme.

Federal authorities said Friday that 69-year-old Deowraj Buddhu and 42-year-old Sunita Buddhu, both of Wethersfield , face multiple counts of mail fraud and passing fraudulent financial instruments.

The indictment alleges that between February 2009 and June 2012, the Buddhus sold a debt elimination program at substantial cost while promising victims that a little-known government fund could be used to pay off their mortgages and other debts. No such fund exists.

Prosecutors say the Buddhus also told the victims to stop paying their mortgages, putting them at risk of foreclosure.

The Buddhus are both in custody and unavailable for comment.

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