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Couple In Fire Board-Up Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty

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Dec 17, 2008 6:26 pm US/Central

Couple In Fire Board-Up Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty

Reporting
Pam Zekman
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The operators of a multimillion dollar fraud scheme that targeted fire victims have pleaded guilty to felony charges.

The 2 Investigators first exposed how homeowners were burned twice by the schema. Tad Christensen and Donna Christensen rushed to fire scenes signing up business to board up the homes and restore them. But their company, Action Fire Restoration collected insurance money for work they did not finish.

CBS 2's Pam Zekman reports that as part of the guilty plea deal, the Cook County State's Attorney's office says the fraud victims and the taxpayers will get back more than $1.8 mission in cash seized from the couple.

Tad Christensen has pleaded guilty to aggravated home repair fraud and money laundering. Donna Christensen has pleaded guilty to forgery and operating a continuing financial crimes enterprise.

That enterprise devastated homeowners like Joan Coleman.

"A total rip off," she said. "They just lied to me about everything."

The Christensens were placed on four years probation by the judge and given this warning: If they get in any trouble during that time, they could be jailed for up to 15 years.

Tad Christensen still faces sentencing in Du Page County where he pleaded guilty to gun charges.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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