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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DC Man Sentenced to 150 Months In Prison For Forging Deeds
Duane McKinney, 36, Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 150 months in prison on charges of fraud, theft, and monetary transactions.
McKinney was found guilty on Thursday, April 17, 2008, of four counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, three counts of First Degree Theft, and two counts of monetary transactions. He was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Judge Reggie B. Walton to 150 months on the wire and mail fraud counts, 120 months (to be served concurrently) on the monetary transaction counts, and 60 months (to be served concurrently) on the D.C. theft counts. Judge Walton also ordered the defendant to pay $912,630.75 in restitution and to forfeit to the United States three luxury vehicles and two real properties; the court also ordered two money judgments in the amounts of $770,872 and $59,000.
A co-defendant, Joe D. Liles, Upper Marlboro, pleaded guilty on January 16, 2008, to a D.C. charge of false statements. Judge Walton sentenced Liles on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, to 180 days, execution of sentence suspended, three years probation, and to pay restitution of $691,587.
The government’s evidence at trial established that Duane McKinney obtained title to about $1 million worth of D.C. and Maryland properties through forged deeds, that is, deeds which purported to be signed by the owners transferring the properties to McKinney or his shell business. In fact, the deeds were not signed by the owners; the vast majority of the owners were deceased at the time of the forged and false deeds. McKinney was assisted by Joe D. Liles, who would sign his name to these false deeds as the notary falsely stating that he saw the owner sign the deeds as grantor and that the owner personally appeared before him. Once the deeds were notarized, McKinney would then sell the properties as if they belonged to him or his business and would use the money for himself. Some of those who purchased the homes lost all of their purchase money; others whose families owned the homes for generations were required to file suit against McKinney to regain their properties.
In announcing the results of this prosecution, U.S. Attorney Taylor, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Persichini, IRS Special Agent in Charge Martin, and DISB Commissioner Hampton commended Special Agents Kelly Bender, FBI, and Ronald D. Williams, IRS, and Annette D. Beresford, formerly a fraud investigator with the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking. They also noted the assistance of Special Agents Brian Smith (FBI), Lori Garner (IRS), Cindy Buskey (DEA), Aaron Ybarra (ATF), and Deena P. Wilson (Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General) and Arlington County Police Department members James Daniel and Steven Meinke. In addition, they commended paralegal specialists Melanie Howard and Jeanne Latimore-Brown, legal assistant April Peeler, Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Cowden, Diane Lucas, Judith A. Kidwell, former Assistant U.S. Attorney James Flood, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, who prosecuted the case.
Bob Thomas of Ellijay, Georgia borrowed $630,000 on my home by forging a security deed with United Community Bank.
I need help.
Posted by on 01/15 at 05:42 AM
A lawyer forged a deed to my Dallas Downtown property 212 Reunion Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75201,and traded it for another property blocks away.
Need help.
A law firm committed faud upon the court during a court proceeding and failed to appear in court with their clients over a claim to my home;they lost their counterclaim. Now, there is a realestate sign in the front yard of my property which is currently vacant and they are trying to sell my home worth 1.5 million. The judge in this case said the lawyers and their clients have all committed crimes against me but that I was in the wrong court.
Need an attorney who knows how to handle these situations and can do something NOW. Lawyers committing the FRAUD on both properties. No statues of limitations in Texas when a officer of the court (meaning the lawyers)commits a crime in the courtroom and or outside the court.
Need the best attorney who can take care of this now and stop the sale of my property.
Posted by on 01/18 at 05:33 AM
Tikiri Mayu Bogollogama, a Sri-Lankan conman, ran a similar ponzi scheme here in the District, specifically Georgetown. He created companies with big fancy development titles, mirrored after large oversees companies. He then claimed to be the US agent for this company and would use the foreign company’s balance sheets as a means to value his company here. He sold shares in his US company and would “guarantee” the shares by putting up real estate as collateral. The problem was that he did not own the properties. He would instead use the money given for the shares to make the purcahse of the property. Then he would take out private money loans from the property and try repay “interest” to investors. He would take the additional money from the high interest loans and pay for luxury vehicles, clothes, and dinners. He then would use the first investor as a marketing tool to get other investors to put in more money for shares. When he could not purchase properties or repay any money to investors, he claimed he would do an Initial Public Offering for his US Company and repay the investors 10 folds. This of course never happened and the investors lost their money. He stopped paying hard money loans, who took back properties, but found out that there were unrecorded liens of the property. What a scam…
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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