real estate fraud: Former Mortgage Broker Admits Role in Multi-Million-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/28/11 11:21 AM
Former New Jersey Mortgage Broker Admits Role in Multi-Million-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey TRENTON, NJ—A former New Jersey mortgage broker admitted today that he participated in a mortgage fraud scheme which defrauded lenders and generated millions of dollars in fraudulent mortgage loans, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Ara Mesropian, 39, of Paramus, N.J., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Mesropian entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this and related cases … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Second New Jersey Man Admits Role in $40.8 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/27/11 11:10 AM
Second New Jersey Man Admits Role in $40.8 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey CAMDEN, NJ—A second New Jersey man today admitted to his role in a $40.8 million mortgage fraud conspiracy, serving as a “straw buyer” to cause a lender to release almost $980,000 based on a fraudulent mortgage loan application, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. John Siuszko, 55, of Wharton, N.J., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas in Camden federal court. According to documents … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Owner of Mortgage Rescue Business Arrested
- 07/27/11 11:06 AM
Owner of Northern Virginia Mortgage Rescue Business Arrested U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia ALEXANDRIA, VA—Howard R. Shmuckler, 67, of Virginia Beach, Va., has been charged by a federal grand jury of running a fraudulent mortgage rescue business that received substantial fees but, in most cases, failed to modify clients’ mortgages. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; Jon T. Rymer, Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC-OIG); and Christy Romero, Acting Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Man Pleads Guilty in Mail Fraud Ponzi Real Estate Investment Scheme
- 07/27/11 06:26 AM
Boynton Beach Man Pleads Guilty in Mail Fraud Ponzi Investment Scheme Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and J. Thomas Cardwell, Commissioner, State of Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation, announced that Anthony F. Cutaia, 65, of Boynton Beach, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Under the terms of the plea agreement filed with the Court, Cutaia pled guilty to count two of the criminal information … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Title Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Scheme to Divert Over $3 Million Intended to Payoff Previous Mortgages
- 07/27/11 06:18 AM
Title Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Scheme to Divert Over $3 Million Intended to Payoff Previous Mortgages U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Maryland BALTIMORE—Michael A. Gmeinwieser, age 38, of Crofton, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in a scheme to divert over $3 million in settlement funds intended to pay off the previous mortgage on the properties to himself and his company. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to Gmeinwieser’s plea, … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Fraudster Nets 6 Years In Prison for Mortgage Fraud
- 07/27/11 04:13 AM
Romero Minor, 52, Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for his role in a mortgage fraud conspiracy that involved dozens of properties and $7.5 million in loans. Minor pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and several counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Patrician A. Gaughan sentenced him to 69 months in prison. Between 2003 and 2006, Minor organized a mortgage fraud scheme involving 48 properties located throughout Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, Ohio, in which Minor and defendant Wendell Kerr (“Kerr”) used entities created by Minor, Minor Ministries and BFB … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Mortgage Broker Charged in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/27/11 04:07 AM
Mortgage Broker Charged in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme Derrick Ivan Lance, 40, Edina, Minnesota, a mortgage broker, was charged for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Lance was charged via an Information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Allegedly, between 2004 and 2007, Lance conspired with others, including Roger Bill Hanks, to obtain mortgage loan proceeds based on fraudulent documentation. Lance’s unnamed co-conspirators identified residential properties available for purchase and recruited buyers for those properties. Two of the co-conspirators allegedly told buyers they would receive payments (i.e., kickbacks) after the property transactions … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Short Sale Fraudster Goes to Jail
- 07/27/11 04:02 AM
Short Sale Fraudster Goes to Jail Anna McElaney, 40, Norwalk, Connecticut, was sentenced by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport, Connecticut to eight months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, the first six months of which McElaney must spend in home confinement, for her involvement in a “short sale” mortgage fraud scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, McElaney, a real estate agent, and Sergio Natera, also a real estate agent, defrauded Regions Bank, which held two mortgages on a residential property in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On December 5, 2007, McElaney, who was a listing agent … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Woman Charged for Downpayment Kickback Scam
- 07/27/11 03:57 AM
Woman Charged for Downpayment Kickback Scam Lindsey Rae Loyear, , 29, St. Paul, Minnesota, was charged with participating in a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders out of more than $5 million. Loyear was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud. Allegedly from 2006 through October of 2008, Loyear conspired with others to defraud mortgage lenders in connection with financing real estate transactions in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, including the purchase of Cloud 9 Sky Flats development in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The scheme involved the submission of false information to lenders in order to obtain mortgage loans. As a … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Unlicensed Real Estate Agent Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribe in Scheme to Secure Streamlined Approvals for Short Sales
- 07/26/11 09:34 AM
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribe in Scheme to Secure Streamlined Approvals for Short Sales U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California LOS ANGELES—An unlicensed real estate agent from Arizona has pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges for offering to pay thousands of dollars to an individual he believed was a Bank of America employee in exchange for shortened approval times and lower appraisal values in short-sale transactions. Richard Pilewicz, 54, of Scottsdale, Arizona, appeared yesterday in United States District Court and pleaded guilty to one count of bribery. According to court documents, Pilewicz contacted a Bank of America … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Real Estate Agent Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Bank in Short Sale Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/26/11 06:17 AM
Real Estate Agent Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Bank in Short Sale Mortgage Fraud Scheme U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANNA McELANEY, 40, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to eight months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, the first six months of which McELANEY must spend in home confinement, for her involvement in a “short sale” mortgage fraud scheme. A short sale transaction involves a mortgage holder or lender entering into an agreement to … (4 comments)
real estate fraud: St. Paul Woman Charged in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/25/11 02:07 PM
St. Paul Woman Charged in Mortgage Fraud Scheme U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS—Late this past Friday afternoon a 29-year-old St. Paul woman was charged with participating in a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders out of more than $5 million. Lindsey Rae Loyear was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud. Allegedly from 2006 through October of 2008, Loyear conspired with others to defraud mortgage lenders in connection with financing real estate transactions in the Twin Cities, including the purchase of Cloud 9 Sky Flats development in Minnetonka. The scheme involved the submission of … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Mortgage Broker Charged in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- 07/25/11 09:25 AM
Mortgage Broker Charged in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme U.S. Attorney’s Office July 25, 2011 District of Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS—This past Friday in federal court, an Edina mortgage broker was charged for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Derrick Ivan Lance, age 40, of Edina, was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Allegedly, between 2004 and 2007, Lance conspired with others, including Roger Bill Hanks, to obtain mortgage loan proceeds based on fraudulent documentation. Lance’s unnamed co-conspirators identified residential properties available for purchase and recruited buyers for … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Federal Judge Sentences Fugitive Real Estate Fraudster to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison
- 07/25/11 06:43 AM
Federal Judge Sentences Fugitive Fraudster to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison Defendant Michael R. Rouse, Co-Founder of the Golden Gate Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), Sentenced in Absentia U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Texas DALLAS—Michael R. Rouse, 56, was sentenced today, in absentia, by U.S. District Judge Barbara M G. Lynn to 210 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution to the 62 identified victims of his crime, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Rouse was convicted at trial in April 2011 on all nine counts of a … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Philip R. Lochmiller, Sr. Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Money Laundering, and Mail Fraud Lochmiller Defrauded Over 400 Victims of More Than $30 Million
- 07/22/11 04:57 PM
Philip R. Lochmiller, Sr. Found Guilty of Conspiracy, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Money Laundering, and Mail Fraud Lochmiller Defrauded Over 400 Victims of More Than $30 Million U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Colorado DENVER—A jury this morning found Philip R. Lochmiller, Sr. guilty of conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and mail fraud, U.S. Attorney John Walsh, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Yacone, and IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Sigerson announced. The guilty verdict was the result of a 10-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer. The jury deliberated for three hours before returning their verdicts. No … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Former Football Player Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud Involving Condominium Interest
- 07/22/11 04:39 PM
Former Football Player Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud U.S. Attorney’s Office District of South Carolina COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Richard Francis Sanford, age 54, of Lexington, pled guilty in federal court in Columbia to bankruptcy fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), and was sentenced to two years’ probation, 30 days of home confinement, and 100 hours of community service. Senior United States District Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr., presided. Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Sanford is a chiropractor and former professional football player who attempted to file … (2 comments)
real estate fraud: Former FBI Special Agent Darin Lee McAllister Sentenced to Federal Prison for Federal Wire Fraud in Connection with the Purchase of Rental Properties Totaling $1.25 million and Bankruptcy Fraud
- 07/22/11 09:44 AM
Former FBI Special Agent Darin Lee McAllister Sentenced to Federal Prison for Federal Wire and Bankruptcy Fraud U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Tennessee NASHVILLE, TN—Former FBI Special Agent Darin Lee McAllister, 44, of Brentwood, Tenn., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Nashville, to 48 months in prison for his December 2010, convictions on wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud. In addition to his prison sentence, McAllister was ordered to pay $675,142.83, in restitution to the victims of his fraud and a special assessment of $1800.00. Upon his release from prison, McAllister will also serve a term of three years’ … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Norwich Accountant Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax Charges
- 07/22/11 09:35 AM
Norwich Accountant Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax Charges U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that FELIX ROBERT LaSARACINA, 60, of Norwich, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to pay federal employment taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, LaSARACINA, the owner and operator of F. Robert LaSaracina CPA, LLC in Norwich, provided accounting and tax preparation services to clients in the New London … (0 comments)
He was their last hope—about 250 Southern California homeowners facing foreclosure and eviction believed him when he said he said could save their homes. But in reality, he was their worst nightmare—he ended up fleecing the homeowners for approximately $1 million…and not a single home was saved in the process. Last week, Jeff McGrue, owner of a Los Angeles-area foreclosure relief business, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding people who were at the end of their rope. Even the federal judge who sentenced him called him “heartless.” It … (0 comments)
real estate fraud: Seven California Real Estate Professionals Indicted for Mortgage Fraud Scheme that Allegedly Caused Losses Exceeding $4 Million
- 07/20/11 09:31 AM
Seven Real Estate Professionals Indicted for Mortgage Fraud Scheme Allegedly Caused Losses Exceeding $4 Million U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of California SACRAMENTO, CA-United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging seven real estate professionals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on July 14, 2011. Charged in the case are Moctezuma Tovar, 42; Manuel Herrera, 31; Ruben Rodriguez, 34; and Jaime Mayorga, 32, all licensed real estate agents residing in Sacramento; Sandra Hermosillo, 49, of Woodland, formerly a loan officer; Jun … (4 comments)
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Former New Jersey Mortgage Broker Admits Role in Multi-Million-Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
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