Real Estate Fraud Report - Friday March 13, 2015 - Hundreds of Cases

REAL ESTATE

FRAUD FILES

“Greed, by nature, which includes reprehensible acquisitiveness and one's insatiable desire for wealth, at some stage of evolution, is like an x-ray machine that exposes the filthy soul and drags the culprit of that deadly sin into hell on earth.”

― David Saks

 Most real estate fraud-related articles and Department of Justice press

releases published here are taken from the public record, which normally

include press releases and court documents related to each entry and case.

Any other type of record, i.e. newspaper reports, are only published after

consent has been obtained from the original publisher.

 
Nothing will be published that has not been verified via the public record or

consent provided.

======================================================

real estate fraud: Mortgage Fraud Blog for Thursday March 12, 2015 - 03/12/15 12:03 AM       Mortgage Fraud Blog sends me an update email once per week.   The Mortgage Fraud Blog website is updated every business day and you can always get the latest news by visiting www.mortgagefraudblog.com. Copyright 2004-2014 Rachel M. Dollar … (8 comments) real estate fraud: Man Admits Role in $13 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme - 03/10/15 08:14 PM Hudson County Man Admits Role in $13 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme CAMDEN, NJ—A Hudson County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a $13 million mortgage fraud scam that used phony documents and “straw buyers” to make illegal profits on overbuilt condos in Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. John Leadbeater, 58, of Kearny, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle in Camden federal court to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The plea came after the first week in what prosecutors and … (6 comments) real estate fraud: Mortgage Fraud Blog for Wednesday March 4, 2015 - 03/03/15 09:35 PM     Mortgage Fraud Blog sends me an update email once per week.   The Mortgage Fraud Blog website is updated every business day and you can always get the latest news by visiting www.mortgagefraudblog.com. Copyright 2004-2014 Rachel M. Dollar … (4 comments) real estate fraud: Real Estate Fraud Report for February 27, 2015 - Many New Cases - 02/26/15 11:19 PM REAL ESTATE   FRAUD FILES   “Greed, by nature, which includes reprehensible acquisitiveness and one's insatiable desire for wealth, at some stage of evolution, is like an x-ray machine that exposes the filthy soul and drags the culprit of that deadly sin into hell on earth.”           ― David Saks    Most real estate fraud-related articles and Department of Justice press   releases published here are taken from the public record, which normally   include press releases and court documents related to each entry and case.   Any other type of record, i.e. newspaper … (8 comments) real estate fraud: West Virginia Couple Sentenced - Defrauded Elderly to Purchase House - 02/26/15 01:03 PM West Virginia Couple Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Victim to Purchase Beach House WHEELING, WV—A Wetzel County couple was sentenced in federal court today after they stole nearly $400,000.00 from a 90-year-old victim to purchase a vacation home in the Outer Banks, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced. In October 2014, a jury found Timothy Summers, 67, and Lea Ann Summers, 52, of Proctor, West Virginia, guilty of one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud” and one count of “Securities Fraud.” The jury further found Lea Ann Summers guilty of four counts of “Mail Fraud.” The … (8 comments) real estate fraud: 7th Defendant Guilty $3.9M Mortgage Fraud - 35 Properties Foreclosed - 02/26/15 12:48 PM Seventh Defendant Pleads Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy That Resulted in at Least $3.9 Million in Fraud At Least 35 Properties Throughout Minnesota Went into Foreclosure as a Result of Scheme The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota today announced the guilty plea of JUSTIN JOSEPH CHRISTENSON, 35, who admitted conspiring with   THOMAS ROSENSTEEL,   ROBERT SCOTT “ROD” ASLESEN, and at least four others to defraud mortgage lenders by falsifying loan applications and related documents. CHRISTENSON is the seventh co-conspirator to plead guilty to participating in the scheme. The defendant pleaded guilty today before … (4 comments) real estate fraud: Mortgage Fraud Blog for February 25, 2015 - 02/25/15 07:36 AM       Mortgage Fraud Blog sends me an update email once per week.   The Mortgage Fraud Blog website is updated every business day and you can always get the latest news by visiting www.mortgagefraudblog.com. Copyright 2004-2014 Rachel M. Dollar … (2 comments) real estate fraud: Former Township Tax Collector Charged with Theft of $300K in Funds - 02/25/15 07:28 AM Former Township Tax Collector Charged Federally with Theft of $300,000 in Public Funds The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Criminal Information was filed today against Melissa Ann Arnold, 46, of York. According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, the Information alleges that during 2008 and 2009, Arnold stole more than $300,000 from tax payments made by citizens to Spring Garden Township, York County. Arnold was the Treasurer and Tax Collector for Spring Garden Township from 1995 until October 2009. Arnold was allegedly able to steal the tax payments because many of … (2 comments) real estate fraud: Former Bank of America V.P. in L.V. Guilty - Losses Exceed $6.4 Mil - 02/25/15 07:22 AM Former Bank of America Vice President in Las Vegas Pleads Guilty to Misapplication of Bank Funds Bank Losses Exceeded $6.4 Million WASHINGTON—A former senior vice president of Bank of America (BOA) in Las Vegas pleaded guilty today to misapplication of bank funds in a scheme that led to over $6.4 million in losses to BOA on two business-related loans. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Laura A. Bucheit of the FBI’s Las Vegas Office and Special Inspector General Christy L. Romero … (0 comments) real estate fraud: Real Estate Fraud for February 23, 2015 - Thousands of Cases to Review - 02/23/15 05:13 PM REAL ESTATE   FRAUD FILES   “Greed, by nature, which includes reprehensible acquisitiveness and one's insatiable desire for wealth, at some stage of evolution, is like an x-ray machine that exposes the filthy soul and drags the culprit of that deadly sin into hell on earth.”       ― David Saks             Related Links:   ← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 103 104 Next →   … (4 comments) real estate fraud: Cal Woman Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Real Estate Fraud - 02/23/15 05:04 PM Seal Beach Woman Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Federal Prison for Operating Real Estate Scheme in Orange County SANTA ANA, CA—A Seal Beach woman was sentenced today to 35 months in federal prison for operating a $1.4 million fraud scheme that bilked clients who paid money in response to false promises of ownership in commercial real estate. Karen Hanover, 48, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine Staton, who scheduled a May 8 hearing to determine how much restitution should be paid to approximately 45 victims. Hanover pleaded guilty last year to one count of mail fraud … (4 comments) real estate fraud: Nebraska Sovereign Citizen Sentenced for Filing False Property Liens - 02/20/15 04:36 PM Nebraska Sovereign Citizen Sentenced for Obstructing Internal Revenue Service and Filing False Property Liens Against Federal Officials WASHINGTON—A La Vista, Nebraska, woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska in Omaha to serve 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for tax obstruction, filing a false claim and filing false retaliatory property liens, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced. Donna Marie Kozak, a former college instructor, was convicted by a jury on Aug. 1, 2014, on all nine counts charged in the … (8 comments) real estate fraud: Former Title Company Owner Heads to Prison in Bank Fraud Conspiracy - 02/19/15 05:19 PM Former Title Company Owner Heads to Prison in Bank Fraud Conspiracy HOUSTON—Harris County resident Kirk Smith has been ordered to prison following his conviction for defrauding seven different Houston-area banks or more than $2 million in 2007 and 2008, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Smith pleaded guilty Oct. 9, 2013. Today, U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, who accepted the guilty plea, handed Smith a 36-month sentence to be followed by three years of supervised release. He will also have to pay $2,078,783.68 in restitution. As outlined in documents filed with the court and admitted by Smith during … (18 comments) real estate fraud: Mortgage Fraud Blog for February 18, 2015 - 02/17/15 09:29 PM       Mortgage Fraud Blog sendme an update email once per week.   The Mortgage Fraud Blog website is updated every business day and you can always get the latest news by visiting www.mortgagefraudblog.com. Copyright 2004-2014 Rachel M. Dollar … (12 comments) real estate fraud: HUD Officials Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bribery & Embezzlement - 02/11/15 08:13 AM Hidalgo HUD Officials Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bribery and Embezzlement MCALLEN, TX— Susana Munguia, 61, and Lubina Pedraza, 54, both of Hidalgo, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and embezzlement and several counts of bribery, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Munguia and Pedraza were former officials with the City of Hidalgo Housing Authority who worked directly with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). Munguia was the executive director and Pedraza was a secretary. The indictment charging them was returned under seal Feb. 3, 2015, and unsealed today … (0 comments) real estate fraud: Mortgage Fraud Blog for February 11, 2015 - 02/11/15 12:19 AM       Mortgage Fraud Blog sends me an update email once per week.   The Mortgage Fraud Blog website is updated every business day and you can always get the latest news by visiting www.mortgagefraudblog.com. Copyright 2004-2014 Rachel M. Dollar … (14 comments) real estate fraud: Another Shyster Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Charge - 02/10/15 06:53 AM Attorney Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Charge PITTSBURGH—An attorney has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of bank fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today. Erik Sobkiewicz, 51, of 432 Morewood Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa., pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David Cercone. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Mr. Conway provided the following information to the Court at the time of the plea: Sobkiewicz was an attorney involved in a number of interrelated schemes. The first scheme, involved Sobkiewicz embezzling funds … (2 comments) real estate fraud: Real Estate Fraud for February 10, 2015 - Thousands of Cases to Review - 02/09/15 11:03 PM   REAL ESTATE   FRAUD FILES       “Greed, by nature, which includes reprehensible acquisitiveness and one's insatiable desire for wealth, at some stage of evolution, is like an x-ray machine that exposes the filthy soul and drags the culprit of that deadly sin into hell on earth.”   ― David Saks           Related Links:   ← Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 103 104 Next →   … (2 comments) real estate fraud: Woman Sentenced to Two Years for Mail Fraud - Stole Many Thousands - 02/09/15 04:20 PM Virginia Beach Woman Sentenced to Two Years for Mail Fraud Found to be Stealing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Local Construction Companies NORFOLK, VA— Paula G. Akers, age 51, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for mail fraud. Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and John S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after Jackson’s sentencing before United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Akers was charged with the offense in a … (2 comments) real estate fraud: Couple Guilty of Foreclosure Rescue Scam Targeting Spanish-Speaking - 02/06/15 10:38 PM Roseville Couple Plead Guilty to Loan Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Scam That Targeted Spanish-Speaking Community SACRAMENTO, CA— Martin Wayne Flanders, 50, formerly of Roseville, and Ligia Sandoval Spafford, 48, of Roseville, pleaded guilty today to mail fraud for their participation in a fraud scheme that targeted distressed homeowners, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. According to court documents, between 2008 and 2010, Flanders charged clients advance fees in exchange for a number of financial services, including loan modifications, mortgage loan audits, credit repair, debt relief, bankruptcy filings, and a program to sell homes to “investors” with a … (6 comments)