Alleged loan scammers released pending trial

Three Clark County residents accused of running commercial loan scams that reaped more than $1 million have been released pending trial.

Darcy and Alyson Start of Camas, who were arrested by FBI agents on April 9 at their Prune Hill home, are charged with 17 counts of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.

Charged with one count of the same crime is Chad Derousse, who was arrested at his home in Vancouver's Fircrest neighborhood.

In a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Tacoma four days after their arrests, Judge Karen L. Strombom ordered that the three be released on appearance bonds with pretrial supervision. They must be fitted with active GPS systems, according to the docket.

No trial date has been set.

All three were released last week according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site, www.bop.gov.

The indictment said the three worked together, out of their homes.

More than 20 people or businesses allegedly were victimized by the Starts, paying them advance fees for loans that were never obtained.

The Starts allegedly operated companies they called Advanced Lending Solutions Inc., Rocket Processing Inc., and Imperial Acquisitions and Holdings, using Web sites to advertise their ability to obtain loans.

Advanced Lending was incorporated here in December 2004, and the alleged conspiracy started "no later than January 2006," the indictment says.

Derousse is accused of operating Diamond Crest Consulting Corp., with his Web site claiming: "We work with over 100 Class 'A' lenders," and saying he could arrange loans ranging from $1 million to $10 billion.

The Starts allegedly failed to obtain the loans and kept the advance fees, totaling more than $1 million, for their own use, in a number of local bank accounts.

The FBI traced wire transfers ranging from $3,500 to $250,000, the indictment said.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.