Mortgage Fraud Blog is the premier website for news and information on mortgage fraud and real estate fraud throughout the United States.
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 Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar
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Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. joined forces with Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington on September 15, 2008, to announce the indictment of a dozen defendants in an elaborate mortgage fraud scheme centered in Atlanta, Georgia‘s West End. Five defendants are already arrested and in custody while the others remain at-large. The defendants are allegedly accused of buying and selling nine homes using inflated appraisals to more than double actual value. According to media reports, seven of the homes were located in Atlanta’s historic West End.
The following defendants are in custody:
Grady Bland, Michael Dunlap, Jephthah Jenkins, Franklin Polite, and Brian Stokelin.
The following defendants remain at large:
Paul Agbeblewu, Frederick Fisher, also known as Rahim Kariem, Nikoi Kotey, also known as Jonathan Nikoi Kotey, Charles Neequaye, W. Leo Payne, Anthony Riley, also known as Aloysius Anthony Peter, and Ekue Satchivi, also known as Francesco E. Satchivi or Francesco E. Satchni.
The next wave in Fraud...loan modifications with fees..
Posted by on 09/16 at 05:36 PM
First American Title makes alot of mistakes and bad decisions that affect real estate consumers. the Real Estate Industry is Broken. The Only insurance you, the Real Estate Consumer Has is Knowledge.
Posted by on 09/16 at 09:01 PM
As an account executive, I have looked at tons of deals-- SubPrime, Agency, Government, and Alt-A. I have talked with tons of people in the industry and we have all seen the usual types of fraud-- home made w-2’s, junk voe’s, etc.-- but we are seeing fraud as an industry. The layers of complicity include realtors, sellers, buyers, lawyers, and, I am sure, lo’s and underwriters. However, I do not think that the number of bad deals out there has caused the housing meltdown we have now. There is more to it. We will never get to the bottom of it.
Posted by on 09/17 at 03:54 AM
No, it was ALL cause by an industry that knows no ethical boundaries, has no oversight and thrives on fraud.
Posted by on 09/19 at 11:33 AM
It was in fact, ALL caused by criminals. The industry might be lacking in oversight and the crooks do thrive in a market with such high profits, but the FACT is, the criminals did the dirty deeds, not the industry. Would you say the bank is guilty because they kept so much cash on hand? No, you wouldn’t. Stop labeling the industry. Just so you know, I AM the detective that arrested those folks.
Failed Mortgage Firm Trustee Allowed $50,000 in Fees Union Leader
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge J. Michael Deasy will approve $50,000 in legal fees for the trustee of failed mortgage brokerage businesses Financial Resources Mortgage Inc. and CL&M Inc.
Bend Oregon Event to Help Homeowners Prevent Foreclosures Oregon.Gov
As part of an ongoing effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, state agencies are organizing a foreclosure-prevention event in Bend on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
Shelbyville Man Gets 2-Year Sentence For Loan Fraud Chattanoogan.Com
Prosecutor Gary Humble said the lost was approximately $2.3 million in the mortgage fraud involving hundreds of homes in the Shelbyville area.
Lend America, VP Ashley Banned from FHA Housing Wire
Michael Ashley, the embattled former vice president of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed mortgage originator Lend America, and the company he worked for, were permanently banned from doing business in the industry last week.
Countrywide Tries to Pin Blame on Insurer Court House News
Countrywide Home Loans demands $111 million from Triad Guaranty Insurance, claiming Triad is trying to blame mortgage lenders for the insurer's role in the housing bubble and collapse.
Investors Say They Were Swindled in Property Scheme Fox 13 Now
Utah Division of Consumer Protection is joining forces with a few investors who claim they have been cheated by an agency called "Utah Mini Ranches.
Greenfield Man Accused of Housing Scam The Republic
A former real estate agent conned at least eight people by renting them properties actually owned by a federal agency and then running off with their deposits, prosecutors said.
Appraisal Institute Opposes Obama Administration's Plan for Homeowner 'Short Sales' PR News Wire
Citing concerns about increased mortgage fraud, four organizations representing more than 35,000 real estate appraisers today voiced their opposition to changes to an Obama administration program that will encourage "short sales" of homes.
Ownership Rights to Get Another Look TBO.Com
State lawmakers may beef up protections of property owners' rights by rewriting a law this spring that is at the center of a case of alleged fraud in Pasco County.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Continued Testimony
As reported by Anne Mitchell, who viewed the trial:
Angela Parenza worked for Jeff Miller as the office manager for 7 or 8 years beginning in 1998. Parenza was indicted along with Miller and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Parenza testified that Miller or his contractors allegedly preferred to build all the...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage Continued - Witness Testimony
Steve Middleton Testimony - Coverage Provided by Anne Mitchell
The Government continued in its cross examination of Steve Middleton. He was shown several HUD-1 statements involving sales of homes located in Overland Park, KS, and Olathe, KS. The HUD statements each allegedly showed line items of payments to (James) Moser & Associates, LLC's...
Monday, February 01, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage - Continued Witness Examination
According to Anne Mitchell, who is present in court for the trial:
Next Witness: Kelly Sanford
Kelly Sanford of the Federal Reserve was a short witness for the Government. Sanford manages electronic payments between banks and member financial institutions. He was shown copies of wire transfers and asked whether they coincided with the counts in...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 F. Jeffrey Miller Trial - Prosecution Witnesses Continued
According to Anne Mitchell, who is viewing the trial:
January 13, 2010
Witness: Rick Hayes
Rick Hayes testified that on the day that he closed on his Miller Enterprise home, he received a phone call from the Kansas Banking Commission informing him that his loan was fraudulent. After the Hayes responded to a classified ad, they met with John...
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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.
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 
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