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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Leader of Multimillion-Dollar NY Fraud Ring Pleads Guilty
Tahir Ali Khan pleaded guilty on November 25, 2008, to a four-count superseding Information charging him with conspiracy to commit bank, wire and credit card fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Ali Khan was the lead defendant in a 15 defendant, multi-count Indictment unsealed on August 15, 2007, and is the tenth defendant to plead guilty. According to the Indictment, the Superseding Information, other documents filed in the case, and statements made in court in connection with Ali Khan’s guilty plea:
Ali Khan was the leader of a fraud ring (the “Khan Ring") that produced false identification documents purporting to have been issued by state and federal government authorities, including driver’s icenses, resident alien cards, social security cards, and tax identification documents. The false identification documents were produced in the names of fraudulent identities, to which members of the Khan Ring referred to among themselves as “chickens.” In order to build financial credit for these fake identities, the Khan ring fraudulently established bank accounts, credit card accounts, apartment leases, and telephone and utility accounts in the names of the “chickens.” The Khan Ring also applied for and obtained lucrative bank loans, home mortgage loans, increased credit card limits, lines of credit, and other financial benefits in the names of the fraudulent identities or in the names of sham businesses supposedly operated by those fraudulent identities. The Khan Ring then defaulted on the loans and credit card debt, causing millions in losses to numerous financial institutions, including the Bank of America. Current loss estimates from the Khan Ring’s fraudulent activities exceed $20 million.
Ali Khan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2009, at 4:30 p.m., before United States District Judge Lorretta A. Preska. Ali Khan faces a statutory maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, and mandatory restitution to the victims of the offense. Ali Khan, 32, has been held in custody since his arrest on August 15, 2007.
In addition to Ali Khan, nine other defendants have pleaded guilty:
Oscar Sanchez pleaded guilty on November 13, 2008 to one count of bank fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
Naveed Ali Bhindar pleaded guilty on June 6, 2008 to one count of money laundering, and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 22, 2008, 10:30 a.m.
Franklin Rodriguez pleaded guilty on July 1, 2008, to three counts of conspiracy – to commit identification document fraud, bank fraud, and to transport and sell stolen vehicles – and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
Nadeem Khan pleaded guilty on July 31, 2008, to one count of conspiracy to commit identification document fraud, and was sentenced on November 24, 2008 to 46 months in prison.
Muhammad Ishaq pleaded guilty on September 26, 2008 to three counts of conspiracy – to commit identification document fraud, access device fraud, and bank fraud – and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.
Basharat Jarral pleaded guilty on September 29, 2008, to one count of storage and sale of stolen vehicles, and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.
Qaiser Qureshi pleaded guilty on October 27, 2008, to one count of conspiracy to commit identification document fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.
Shaheen Mukhtar pleaded guilty on November 5, 2008, to one count of conspiracy to commit identification document fraud, and one count of wire fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2009 at 3:00 p.m.
Fayyaz Ahmed pleaded guilty on November 12, 2008, to one count of access device fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2009, at 10;00 a.m.
All of the defendants awaiting sentencing are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Preska.
Criminal charges remain pending against the following defendants: Arie Benshimon, Syed Hassan, Ghulam Mehmood, and Mohammad Sharif. One defendant, Syed Shah, remains a fugitive. As to these five defendants, the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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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