SAN DIEGO -- A former employee at a loan modification company previously targeted by the 10News I-Team reveals the identity of the man in charge of the operation that has allegedly taken money from several unsuspecting homeowners.

The former employee told the I-Team that Zack Taylor is the person behind three loan modification companies that has targeted San Diegans and others across the Southwest.

“He’s the kingpin of the entire organization,” said the former top executive involved in one of Taylor's companies. The insider’s name is being withheld to protect his reputation.

The insider said Taylor is a failed mortgage broker who is opening and closing loan modification companies. He also said many employees did not even know his full name.

“He has control over everything,” the insider said.

Taylor was the silent partner in a company called Apollo Funding & Realty, the insider said. The public face of that company was broker Justin Sampas. But the insider said it was Taylor pulling the strings and raking in the money, as much as $350,000 a month in upfront fees.

When the California Department of Real Estate started demanding that loan modification companies have state-approved agreements to take upfront fees, Apollo closed its doors.

Apollo clients told the I-Team they didn’t get their loan modifications. In Apollo’s place, operating out of the same building and with many of the same players, the I-Team found Alliance Law Center.

Taylor was working inside the law center in March 2009 when the I-Team first paid a visit, although he did not identify himself as one of the owners. After seeing the 10News cameras he pointed out attorney Cameron Edwards.

Edwards ended up listed as the supervising attorney, but the insider said it was Taylor who ran the operation, controlled the funds and lured in new clients each month. Alliance had the old Apollo files and computer programs, the I-Team learned.

Dennis Romeo was one of the newer clients of Alliance, and he paid the law center $3,600 upfront this summer for a loan modification.

“I feel scammed, taken advantage of,” Romeo said.

While Alliance took his money, he said, they did not contact his mortgage company.

“How are they going to get away with this? It’s obviously a scam,” Romeo said.

In September, Alliance told its clients that it is insolvent, and that refunds were not available. The I-Team learned Edwards has numerous California State Bar complaints against him.

Meanwhile, former Alliance clients told the I-Team they've being contacted by someone by phone claiming their modification is approved. The person, who the clients said has an Indian accent, said he needed $450 to complete the transaction. Edwards told the I-Team Alliance did send some underwriting to India, but he said he is not involved in the phone calls.

Taylor appeared to be on to his next venture, the I-Team learned.

The I-Team found out he was planning to open another loan modification company under another name, this time in a building in La Jolla. When the I-Team paid a visit, the receptionist said that Taylor and his associates, who were using the name Keypoint Law Group, had abruptly moved out.

Taylor has left behind angry and desperate clients of Apollo and Alliance. The insider said Taylor has no empathy for the people he hurts.

The I-Team tried repeatedly to reach Taylor, but he did not return phone calls.

James Imperiale, the supervising attorney for Keypoint Law Group, said he has no financial connection with Taylor. Imperiale did work for Alliance Law Center.