WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment last month won a suit brought against three real estatesales agents working for a Virginia-based land developer, allegingthe agents participated in an elaborate land scam that bilked anestimated $30 million from more than 1,300 people in 29 states andthe District of Columbia. Operating under the name Buyers Source,the company and its agents victimized more than 500 seniorcitizens, and according to the suit, in four cases the developertargeted people over 100 years old. According to HUD's suit whichit filed last year, the agency claimed Buyers Source sold more than1,000 parcels of land in Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Arkansas,Texas and Missouri at prices that far exceeded their value,sometimes by as much as 3,000%. In some cases, Buyers Source soldproperty the company didn't own. As a result of the decision of thefederal judge in Norfolk, Va., the agents are barred from engagingin fraudulent trade practices and were order to pay over $500,000.The Court also ordered Buyers Source and five other sales agents topay more than $31 million into a compensation fund established bythe judge. Following the ruling, HUD announced settlements with sixother persons who owned and operated Buyers Source. Under the termsof the agreements, the owners will pay up to $1 million into thecompensation fund, and one of the individuals will be banned fromselling real estate for life.