We have all heard of lawyers who allegedly stepped over a line and coerced people into making decisions or taking actions that were later regretted. As a business ethics keynote speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, I have heard far too many tales of somewhat unorthodox or downright fraudulent legal behaviors.
Ashville, North Carolina is now abuzz about a lawyer and an alleged scam artist named Ilesanmi “Ile” Adaramola. Ms. Adaramola, allegedly feels she is different than the rest of us. She was scheduled to appear in court last week on charges and instead skipped her appearance.
Felony charges
Adaramola, is currently accused of running a scam. She elicited the help of a notary public who will also face charges.
There is apparently an old law in the North Carolina books that dates to Civil War times. Its purpose was allegedly to force Black people from their properties. This is both tragic and ironic as Ilesanmi “Ile” Adaramola is Black. The lawyer and her notary located properties of poor individuals who were about foreclose and forced them into auction by falsifying legal documents.
This totally outdated law stated (according to the Ashville, North Carolina Citizen-Times) “to allow one owner of a jointly held property to force a sale, with bidders purchasing the property at significantly less than market value. The buyer would then sell the property at a profit.” It is an ugly, bottom-feeding law that should have been abolished long ago.
Allegedly, Adaramola and her cohort caught many people in the trap including her own uncle. Both the lawyer and the notary have been charged with multiple counts of notary fraud, forgery, wire fraud and other counts of misrepresentation.
Turns interesting
Here is where the case “turns interesting,” though ss a business ethics keynote speaker, business ethics consultant and book author, I am not at all surprised. Unethical behavior invariably leads to other unethical behaviors.
No one can presently find Adaramola. She apparently said she was represented by a particular lawyer, but he said he did not represent her. That lawyer said another lawyer was representing her, and that wasn’t true either.
He allegedly said, “he was looking forward to being hired by Adaramola as her lawyer, but it had not yet been finalized.”
Failing to appear can certainly constitute a crime if the judge presiding over the case deems it important. However, it certainly seems to constitute an admission of guilt. A lawyer should know better (if she can be found).
I find this case particularly distressing as crimes against the elderly and/or poverty-stricken go after victims who are often helpless and without legal or knowledgeable resources. There are many options available to those who are facing the sadness of foreclosure and many ethical individuals and organizations who can at least help the possible “victim” to navigate the system. The lawyer and her notary must have known that as well.
Be very wary
It needs to be said and ethics must be about truth. Clearly, when legal documentation appears on our doorsteps, especially documentation forcing the sale of a home, people who are unsophisticated are terrified – and rightly so.
Every ethnic, religious and racial group has endured unscrupulous individuals of their own ethnicity, race and religion who have “absolutely gutted” them. Name the group and I will show you the fraudster. The fraudster’s “frames of reference” toward the victims are somehow comforting and reassuring. However, that has proven to be a myth.
The important part of trust is ethical behavior, not “comfort” or a kindly smile. And clearly, there must be priority on getting a second opinion and a differing point of view. That said, cities such as Ashville or Albany or Alhambra for that matter, must begin to hold the legal community more to higher ethical standards starting with disbarment.
In this case, if I were the judge, I would have by now issued an arrest warrant. This kind of crime on top of a serious crime should not be allowed to go unpunished.
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