Two people in Mercer County are facing charges for allegedly deceiving a man out of his home.
According to State Police, in January of 2020 an unnamed 61-year-old Volant man was facing foreclosure on his Springfield Township home. Seeking legal help, he met with 39-year-old Hermitage attorney Dustin Cole, who offered to pay the amount due on the home which was just under $19,000. Police say the victim was coerced into taking the loan with an interest rate of 100 percent after being told there were no other options.
The victim also signed deed transfer documents as collateral until the victim paid the loan off. Cole was able to acquire the loan through 65-year-old Jenny Laslow of Hermitage, who owns and operates a title settlement company and is a certified notary.
After the victim couldn’t pay Cole back, Cole had the documents notarized by Laslow without the victim present and filed with the Mercer County Recorder’s office. Once the transfer was complete, Cole acquired a court order to remove the victim from the property.
The Mercer County District Attorney referred the case to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.
Cole is facing multiple charges including theft by deception and usury. Laslow was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Both are awaiting a preliminary hearing at this time.
