Mold scammers cooked

By Michael McCagg HOUSTON, TX -- Seven alleged mold scammers in Texas who were accused of house cooking have been convicted. Texas Department of Insurance spokesman Mark Hanna told CM e-News Daily/CMM Online that six of the accused pleaded guilty and the lone hold-out, Ramnath Ramcharan, 39, of Bay City, was convicted on Wednesday on one count of conspiracy, four counts of mail fraud and 10 counts of money laundering following a jury trial. The case is the largest known involving mold scamming and netted mold remediators and subcontractors, as well as homeowners, Texas authorities reported The six defendants who pleaded guilty to various charges of insurance fraud are Johnny Duane Staples, 54, of Baytown; Janell Staples, 60, of Baytown; Billy Bob Staples, 50, of Conroe; Teresa Ann Staples, 45, of Bay City; Don Edward Mitchell, 58, of Tomball; and Daniel E. Terry, 45, of Broussard, LA. The seven, who face up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines, will be sentenced in December, Hanna said. The group was arrested in June for a process called "house cooking" The process involves water hoses or damaged existing water lines inside being intentionally used to flood the interiors. The water lines are repaired before an adjuster arrives, but not until optimal mold growth conditions - high heat and humidity - are attained, creating extensive mold contamination.