Monday, June 19, 2006
18 Month Sentence in Identity Theft Conspiracy
Theo Gerome Myers, 54, Ft. Washington, Maryland, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit identity theft. He also was ordered to pay restitution of $50,000. According to the statement of facts presented at his guilty plea on October 25, 2005, Myers and others sought to enrich...
Friday, June 16, 2006
Pruett sentenced in mortgage case
Jim Pruett, a former real estate salesman and owner of Leflore Properties Inc of Greenwood, Mississippi has been sentenced to 41 months for his role in a mortgage scheme. Pruett, along with Bobby Fisher former attorney and municipal judge, pled guilty to charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and of money laundering on January 13th. ...
Three additional women implicated in alleged fraud
Ventura County, California - Three additional women have been implicated in the Perez-Galindo real estate fraud scheme according to media reports. Jenny Clark-Lopez, 34, and Rebecca Roberts, 44, were arrested by investigators on Tuesday while Sonia Hernandez, 35, surrendered to the court Wednesday. All three are considered lower-level players...
Hoschton man wanted for posing as real estate agent
Hoschton, Georgia resident Dennis Gutierrez is being sought in connection with cases of real estate fraud according to media reports. Gutierrez is suspected of posing as a real estate agent and appears to have obtained funds from victims in the area but not rendering any services to the individuals. Gutierrez is not a licensed real estate...
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Chicago Loan Broker Pleads Guilty
James Rucker, mortgage broker, Chicago, Illinois admitted to his role in a scheme to defraud lenders of over $900,000 through more than a dozen mortgage transactions in Illinois between 1998 and 2002. The plea agreement indicates that Rucker and his co-conspirators used shell companies, false income, misrepresented asset documentation and fake...
Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced for “Stealing” House
Wendy Jean-Francois, 45, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania was sentenced on Monday to two years jail time, five years probation and to pay $63,000 in restitution for providing forged checks and false bank documents at a loan closing. Jean-Francois, as per media reports, had no more than $1 in her bank account at the time but brought $63,000 in...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Texas Attorney General Shuts Down Real Estate Scam Targeting Hispanic Home Buyers
Austin, Texas – Attorney General Greg Abbott has obtained an emergency restraining order and asset freeze against an Austin business that systematically targeted Hispanic consumers by selling them homes without making important disclosures, including failing to reveal pre-existing liens. Defendants Roberto Flores, real estate broker Richard Allen...
Man charged in reverse mortgage fraud
Today, media sources indicate that Anthony James, 43, of Romulus, Michigan has been charged with two felonies relating to a scheme to defraud an elderly victim out of $42,000. He is also suspected in taking advantage of over 30 other victims for nearly $1 million. The investigation into James’ activities continues and additional charges are...
Rhode Island Nursing Home Operators are Charged with Equity Skimming
The US Attorney’s Office has charged Antonio L Giordano and John Montecalvo with equity skimming in violation of federal housing law governing three nursing homes that they controlled. An information alleges the Giordano and Montecalvo made about $780,000 in unnecessary payments on behalf of the nursing homes when the homes were either in...
Two Charged with Grand Theft in Ventura County
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed an eight-count felony complaint against Manuel “Manny” John Perez, Jr. (DOB 5/7/72), and Michele Galindo (DOB 3/17/69) of Oxnard, California. The complaint charges Perez and Galindo with seven counts of grand theft, arising from their...
American Home Mortgage Files Civil Suit Against Texas Appraiser and Mortgage Broker
American Home Mortgage Acceptance, Inc. filed a civil lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, against Alltex Lending Services, LLC, My House Mortgage, LLC and Diane Bell. According to the complaint, Alltex, under the trade name Alltex Realty Services, is engaged in the business of appraising residential properties. Bell...
Pennsylvania Attorney Indicted in Fraud and Forgery
Michael D. Kasprenski , 43, Allentown, Pennsylvania was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud and three counts of filing false federal income tax returns. Kasprenski was an attorney who operated the Kasprenski Law Office located at 2310 Walbert Avenue, Suite 103, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The...
Monday, June 12, 2006
Ohio Closing Agents Deny Involvement in Down Payment Scheme
The following press release was issued by American Security Title Company: Stephanie Corsmeier, Stacey Lester and American Security Title Company deny the allegation that they participated in, or conspired in, the mortgage fraud schemes perpetrated by Clarence Harris and Ike Bronson. Harris and Bronson have pled guilty to the fraud charges...
Friday, June 09, 2006
Ohio Closing Agents Indicted for Assisting Down Payment Scheme
Stephanie Corsmeier and Stacey Lester were indicted in the Southern District of Ohio on 11 counts of bank, mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to launder money in connection with their participation in a down payment assistance scheme. Corsmeier owned and operated a real estate title company, American Security Title, in Ohio, where she employed ...
Former Oklahoma Appraiser Pleads Guilty to Inflating Values
Lawrence Goodwin, 53, real estate appraiser, Noble, Oklahoma, plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with his preparation of inflated appraisals. Goodwin was charged by information with one count of wire fraud on May 19, 2006. Goodwin lost his Oklahoma license to conduct real estate appraisals on March 3, 2000. From approximately...
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Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of 
