Board, AG suspend realtor's license

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indy-based realtor had his license suspended Wednesday after The Indiana Real Estate Commission met to discuss the misuse of company funds.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s officer agreed on Tuesday to suspend David Garden and his company Star Homes, Inc.'s license for 90 days.

Garden is accused of misusing funds with conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud, failure to remit earnest money and license renewal fraud, according to a release.

In one complaint, a customer paid $1,000 earnest money to Garden Home Realty to place a $23,000 bid on a HUD property.

That customer later learned that HUD only requires a $500 earnest money payment.

The buyer separately paid a separate broker $500 earnest money, placing a bid on that property for $21,000 and winning the property.

The customer claims to have never received a refund from the company.

Garden renewed his real estate broker’s license in 2009 without making it known he had pending criminal charges against him.

He also renewed his license in 2011 after failing to acknowledge he pled guilty to operating while intoxicated with a prior OWI, according to a release.