Mortgage Fraud Blog is the premier website for news and information on mortgage fraud and real estate fraud throughout the United States.
imageRachel 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 Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar

Mortgage Fraud Blog is co-sponsored by Interthinx the leading provider of fraud services and solutions for the mortgage industry.



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- Guaranty Title Owners Indicted for Fraud and Money Laundering
- Mortgage Fraudster Admits Laundering Ill Gotten Gains
- Builder Convicted In Mortgage Scheme
- Identity Thief Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud
- 7 Charged in Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- Appraiser Indicted for False Statements
- Professor Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- Second Missouri Man Sentenced in Major Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- Deed Forger Sentenced in Real Estate Fraud Case
- Man Arrested for Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
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Illinois

Mortgage Fraud - Illinois

Friday, December 16, 2005

Four Indicted in Chicago Mortgage Fraud Scheme

An Illinois grand jury handed down a twelve-count indictment charging the following individuals in connection with an alleged Chicago mortgage fraud scheme that operated during 1999 and 2000:

Mark J. Helfand, attorney, indicted on 12 counts of bank fraud and aiding and abetting;

Maria Jackson, former loan officer for Aarhus & Associates, Ltd.,...

   

Monday, December 12, 2005

Mortgage Fraud Fugitive Arrested in Cananda and Returned to U.S.

Kakvand will face Trial on Illinois Charges

Mohammad Taghie “Mike” Kakvand was returned to the U.S. to face trial on a Chicago, Illinois indictment that was handed down in October of 2004. According to the Chicago Tribune, Kakvand was pulled over in Canada for speeding on October 29, 2005.  When Canadian officials ran the name on his driver’s license, they discovered that he was wanted by...

   

Thursday, November 03, 2005

American Home Files Civil Lawsuit Alleging Inflated Appraisal

American Home Mortgage Corp dba American Brokers Conduit brought a civil action in the Supreme Court for New York County against Allegiance Mortgage Corporation, Act Appraisal, Inc. and Karen Kertz (Please see update regarding professional identity theft suffered by Karen Kertz and dismissal of Act Appraisal, Inc. and Karen Kertz as defendants...

   

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Sentences in Illinois Real Estate Flipping Scheme

McAfee and Shiply with Pay over $1.1 Mil in Restitution

Randolph McAfee, 38, Springfield, Illinois and Darrin Shipley, 38, Peoria Illinois were each sentenced to 20 months in federal prison.  The pair were also ordered to pay $1.13 million in restitution.

In December 2004, McAfee and Shipley each plead guilty to one count of bank fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that involved over...

   

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Third Defendant Indicted in $8M Illinois Mortgage Fraud

Ciota Accused of Using Relatives as Borrowers

An amended indictment has been handed down that adds eight counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering against against Frank Kelly Ciotta, 44, Riverton, Illinois in the case currently proceeding against Gary Knox and Dennis Wiese (click here to view the post on the original indictment.)

The new indictment alleges that Ciota...

   

Monday, August 01, 2005

Illinois Woman Sentenced in Identity Theft

Meija-Cruz Used Assumed Identity Since 2001

Isabel Meija-Cruz, 39, Aurora, Illinois was sentenced to 36 months’ probation, 140 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,362 in court fines and fees after pleading guilty to financial identity theft in connection with her use of New York woman’s identity since 2001.

According to authorities, Meija-Cruz confessed to using the name and Social...

   

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Eight Indicted in Chicago Mortgage Fraud Scheme

The following defendants were named in a thirteen count indictment handed down in Chicago, Illinois in connection with allegations that they engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme that involved approximately $6.2 million in loans.  The indictment alleges mail fraud, wire fraud and making false statements in connection with loan and credit...

   

Monday, July 25, 2005

Feds Arrest Man Accused of Foreclosure Avoidance Scam

Cash Charged in Illinois

John D. Cash, aka Baba Ankh, aka Dr. Typhon.Ra, 45, formerly of Markham, Illinois, was arrested in Atlanta last week by federal authorities.  The government seeks to extradite Cash to Chicago, Illinois where he has been indicted on 11 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud and bankruptcy fraud in connection with allegations that he ran a...

   

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Businessman and Appraiser Indicted in Illinois Flipping Scheme

Over 150 Properties Involved in Alleged Scam

An Illinois grand jury handed down an indictment charging Gary Knox, 59, Decatur, Illinois and Dennis Wiese, Jr., 37, appraiser, Bellevue, Illinois with bank fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with allegations that they engaged in a flipping scheme involving over 150 properties in the Springfield and Decatur areas of Illinois between...

   

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Another Plea in Illinois Fraud Scheme

Kawa Enters Guilty Plea on Two Charges

Dorothy Kawa, 36, Chicago, Illinois pleaded to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Kawa was the owner of a mortgage brokerage firm - Northwest Fidelity Mortgage Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois.  She was indicted, along with 10 other people, in April 2004 in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in lender...

   

Monday, June 20, 2005

Two Plead Guilty In Illinois HUD Fraud

Recent Indictment Nets Two Early Plea Agreements

Two defendants named in a 61 count indictment returned by an Illinois federal grand jury last week have entered guilty pleas.  Another two people who were involved in the scheme but not named in the indictment also entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges. The indictments arose out of an alleged mortgage fraud scheme involving FHA insured...

   

Friday, June 17, 2005

Kakvand Appraiser Sentenced to Two Years

Groh Ordered to Pay Restitution of $11M

Justice William J. Hibbler sentenced Thomas Groh to 24 months in federal prison and 5 years supervised parole.  The sentence was handed down on Wednesday, June 1, 2005 in Courtroom 1225 of the U.S. Northern District Court. Groh was the appraiser who pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in the Mohammed (Mike) Kakvand scheme to sell over 150...

   

Monday, June 13, 2005

Twelve Indicted in Illinois HUD Fraud

Signatories on False Verifications Also Charged

Twelve people were indicted by an Illinois grand jury in connection with a FHA-insured mortgage scheme that involved 48 properties in the Freeport, Illinois area over a period of almost three years.  The individuals indicted include not only the ringleaders and recruiters but also individuals who signed false VOEs and credit letters verifying...

   

Monday, June 06, 2005

Illinois Lawyer Suspended For Three Years

Harmon Submitted False Letter to Obtain Refinance Loan

The Supreme Court of Illinois allowed the petition of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission seeking a three year suspension of Anthony Nickolas Harmon from the practice of law.  The petition was filed with the consent of Harmon

According to the petition, in 2003, while Harmon was serving in the Army in Wisconsin, he...

   

Monday, May 23, 2005

Guilty Verdicts in Chicago Flipping Trial

Barren and Bishop Face Fifteen Years

A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on mail fraud and wire fraud charges against Demetrius Barren and Julian Bishop.  Each of the men faces up to 15 years in prison. Barren and Bishop were indicted in July 2002 along with Carl Miller and Kenneth Washington, in connection with an alleged property flipping scheme in Chicago, Illinois. ...

   

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Today's News

Some Sources require Registration.

 

Mortgage Scam Ends with Prison
The Morning Call
A judge didn't hold back when Shirley Matthews appeared before him Tuesday to be sentenced for stealing from a Monroe County man instead of helping him save his home from foreclosure, as she was hired to do.

Woman Gets Prison Time After Mortgage Scam Conviction
Pocono Record
A New Jersey woman will be spending two to five years in state prison after she was sentenced on Tuesday for promising to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and then keeping the money she was given for their mortgages.

2 Indicted in Mortgage Scam Face New Charges
Newsday.Com
Prosecutors add extra charges to two who are charged in LI mortgage fraud with county legislator, dominatrix and her husband

Untangling Mortgage Fraud in Chicago Condo Buildings
Chicago Public Radio
Why did so many units go into foreclosure all at once? In some cases, the reason can be traced to mortgage fraud.

No Contest Plea Entered in Real Estate Fraud Case
Northbay Business Journal
Juan Carlos Alcala of Windsor pleaded no contest to nineteen felony counts and admitted three special allegations for defrauding real estate investors, money laundering and elder fraud.

Bedford Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Mortgage Fraud
Plain Dealer
Sharon Cox, 49, of Bedford, was sentenced today to a year in prison for mortgage fraud involving money laundering, theft and receiving stolen property from August 2008 through March.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM: Mortgage Fraud High in Area
Washington Times
According to the FBI, Virginia, Maryland and the District are among the top 10 jurisdictions experiencing mortgage fraud.

Former Vegas Resident Charged with Mortgage Fraud in Nevada
National Mortgage Professional Magazine
A former Las Vegas resident has been charged with federal conspiracy and fraud charges for his involvement in a Nevada mortgage fraud scheme involving straw buyers and falsified mortgage loan documents...

Missouri Man Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud
Belleville News Democrat
A suburban St. Louis mortgage company operator has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for a mortgage fraud scheme.

12-Year Prison Term in Mortgage Swindle
Washington Post
A Maryland woman who stole millions from Washington area homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure is a "vulture" whose case should serve as a warning to other con artists...

Previous Articles

TRIAL COVERAGE

Trial coverage provided by Anne Mitchell, Crazy Fish Realty.

F. Jeffrey Miller Update - October 20, 2009

A hearing was held in Topeka, Kansas in front of Judge Julie Robinson. Miller is currently being held pending his sentencing which is set for December 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.. Steve Vanatta and Hallie Irvin, Miller's codefendants, will be sentenced at that time also.

Several motions were heard this week. One was a motion for Miller to be released pending his sentencing. Miller's attorney, Jeff Morris, argued that the court had dismmissed with predjudice the matter involving Miller's purchase of a commercial lawnmower, violating the court ordered monitoring agreement. He also argued that Miller was not a flight risk and should be released. This motion was denied

Another motion heard by Judge Robinson was that of an escrow account containing proceeds from the sale of Miller's forfeited assets. This account has a balance of $143,000. Attorney Morris argued that his firm was due $100,000 for work done in the Miller matter, to date. The government argued that his 'un-itemized fees' were 'exhorbitant'. The balance of the funds, Morris argued, should be released to the Miller family to help pay for mounting household expenses.

The government argued that the 'Asset Forfeiture Provision' applies down to 'the last penny' and that 'the rights of the victims to made whole are of paramount immportance' and that no routine household expenses like Visa bills, are allowed.

Attorney Morris argues that there is more than enough assets to satisfy the jury's judgement of $2.65 million dollars. The government argues that the estimated value of his assets are only $1.4 million.

The government also stated that Miller has been paid dividends from a company Miller has an ownership interest in; Boreflex. From July, 2008 to present, Miller has been paid $330,509.30 from Boreflex, unbeknownst to the court appointed monitor.

Present in the courtroom was Todd Earnshaw. Earnshaw was indicted along with Miller and others in what is commonly referred to as 'Miller I'. That trial is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010 in Topeka, Kansas.



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© Copyright 2004-2009 Rachel M. Dollar

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The information and notices contained on Mortgage Fraud Blog are intended to summarize recent developments in mortgage fraud cases and mortgage banking matters nationwide. The posts on this site are presented as general research and information and are expressly not intended, and should not be regarded, as legal advice. Much of the information on this site concerns allegations made in civil lawsuits and in criminal indictments. All persons are presumed innocent until convicted of a crime. Readers who have particular questions about mortgage banking, mortgage fraud matters or who believe they require legal counsel should seek the advice of an attorney. The creators, editors and sponsors of Mortgage Fraud Blog do not intend to create a confidential relationship or an attorney-client relationship by communication via or arising from this site.

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