Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has obtained a judgment against Florida-based Zeus Funding for deceptively persuading Bay State homebuyers to purchase homes they could not afford.

The order, signed earlier this week by Judge Linda E. Giles in Suffolk Superior Court, directs the company and its manager, Rachel Noyes, to halt business in Massachusetts and pay $480,887 in civil penalties, fees and costs. 

"Especially in these difficult economic times, we will not permit unscrupulous parties to prey upon working class people," said Coakley. "Consumers place their trust in mortgage and real estate professionals and these defendants violated that trust. Such conduct will not be tolerated in Massachusetts."

The judgment resolves an August 2006 lawsuit filed by the attorney general’s office against Zeus Funding LLC, New England Merchants Corp., a Massachusetts company;  Rachel Noyes, manager of both Zeus and New England Merchants; Champagne Associates Real Estate, a Massachusetts company; and Roberta Robinson, the manager and sole officer of Champagne.

Last month, the Attorney General’s Office also entered into a settlement with New England Merchants, Champagne Associates Real Estate and Roberta Robinson. Under the terms of the agreement, the defendants are prohibited from engaging in any mortgage brokering or real estate services in the commonwealth. Additionally, New England Merchants will pay a civil penalty in the amount of $5,000.