Foreclosure Fraud and Community Health in Maryland’s 41st District

Emerging allegations suggest that foreclosures within the district may not only be high. They may also be tainted by fraud. Thanks to a vigilant community member raising concerns, troubling irregularities have come to light, revealing potential systemic vulnerabilities that could be harming homeowners across the city.

A Community Member Uncovers a Disturbing Pattern

The situation came into focus when a Baltimore homeowner, Rhonda Wimbish, attempted to pursue transparency around her foreclosure case. Her request for information exposed a startling claim: the foreclosure auditor assigned to her case, Attorney James Wiggins, was reportedly retired, with a closed office and no working contact number, despite foreclosure audits continuing to be filed in his name. see Wiggins Attorney Grievance

Repeated attempts to contact Wiggins went unanswered. Even more concerning, when Wimbish brought this to the attention of the Baltimore City Circuit Court’s senior legal assistant, she was reportedly advised to simply “LET IT GO.”

If accurate, this raises serious questions:

• How many foreclosure audits were filed under the name of someone who was no longer practicing?

• Were homeowners denied due process due to inaccurate or fraudulent auditing?

• Who was responsible for oversight and why was this not caught earlier?

These questions strike at the center of public trust.

Irregularities in the Foreclosure Process

Wimbish’s case, Baltimore City Circuit Court Case No. 24-O-17-002196, highlights additional discrepancies. According to the documents, none of the Maryland foreclosure procedures under §7-105 were properly followed. Wiggins Attorney Grievance

Even more disturbing:

• A Substitute Trustee’s Sale was publicly advertised for June 12, 2025.

• Yet one day before the sale, the mortgage servicer, Selene Finance, informed both the homeowner and the Better Business Bureau that the account was being serviced under the original agreement indicating no foreclosure action was active.

• Selene Finance simultaneously offered loss-mitigation options, another clear sign that foreclosure proceedings should not have been nearing an auction stage.

These contradictions point to a foreclosure process that may have been moving forward without legal basis, and without the homeowner being properly informed, an alarming breach of both legal and ethical standards.

Systemic Concerns Beyond One Case

The situation extends far beyond a single homeowner. The document lists more than 30 foreclosure cases filed between 2024 and 2025 in Baltimore City, all connected to Auditor James Wiggins. Many were marked Closed, some Appealed, and a handful involved In Rem foreclosures initiated by the city. Wiggins Attorney Grievance

If Wiggins was truly retired and uninvolved, these filings raise profound concerns about:

• Fraudulent submissions to the court

• Broken oversight within the Clerk’s Office

• Potential due process violations across numerous cases

Baltimore’s foreclosure pipeline has long been criticized for opacity. But if audits were improperly filed or approved, this could represent one of the most serious breakdowns in foreclosure integrity in recent years.

The Impact on Community Health

Housing stability is one of the strongest predictors of community well-being. When foreclosure systems fail or worse, are compromised entire neighborhoods feel the damage. Families forced out due to questionable legal actions contribute to school disruptions, increased homelessness, and community trauma. Homes are often a family's largest asset. Fraudulent or improperly processed foreclosures strip families of wealth they have spent decades building.When courts and legal processes appear compromised, residents lose faith in the institutions meant to protect them. Vacant homes, investor takeovers, and speculative buying worsen blight and reduce neighborhood cohesion.

In a district already struggling with underinvestment, high vacancy rates, and population loss, foreclosure fraud is a threat not only to homeowners but to the health and future of the community as a whole.

Why Community Voices Matter

The unfolding concerns in the 41st District underscore the necessity of community vigilance. It was only because a resident refused to “let it go” that these discrepancies surfaced at all. Community members armed with knowledge and persistence play a pivotal role in identifying institutional failures, advocating for accountability, and protecting their neighborhoods.

The courage to speak up is often the first step toward reform.

A Call for Investigation and Reform

Given what has come to light, the district urgently needs:

• A full investigation into all foreclosure audits submitted in the name of Attorney James Wiggins.

• A review of foreclosure procedures within the Baltimore City Circuit Court to ensure compliance with Maryland law.

• Transparency and oversight mechanisms to prevent fraudulent filings.

• Support and restitution pathways for homeowners affected by improper or illegal foreclosure actions.

• Community-centered housing policies that prioritize stability over eviction and displacement.

The stakes are too high to ignore. The health of the 41st District and Baltimore City as a whole depends on restoring integrity to the foreclosure system and ensuring that every homeowner receives fair, lawful treatment.