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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 Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar
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Oregon Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Straw Buyer Scheme
Clifford J. Brigham, 60, Portland, Oregon, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison according to media reports after being found guilty by a jury of mail and wire fraud, money laundering and Social Security fraud. The Judge also ordered Brigham to pay more than $279,000 in restitution. As previously reported by Mortgage Fraud Blog, the jury verdict was returned on November 7, 2007, after a seven day trial before U. S. District Judge Anna J. Brown. The charges stemmed from a multi-million dollar mortgage loan fraud scheme perpetrated by Brigham and his codefendant, Melodie MacDuffee. MacDuffee pled guilty in January 2007 and is awaiting sentence.
Brigham‘s fraud centered on a mortgage loan scheme known as a straw buyer scheme. Brigham paid people with good credit, the straw buyers, to complete mortgage loan applications and purchase homes, telling the buyers he would make the mortgage payments for them. Brigham then structured the purchases of the homes to divert hundreds of thousands of dollars to himself and sham businesses he controlled.
Brigham obtained nearly 30 loans totaling over $5 million dollars, but he never made a single loan payment as promised. Brigham, meanwhile, earned nearly $400,000 from the sales,
which spanned eight months in 2005. Brigham also moved into one of the houses, a million dollar house in Washougal that overlooks the Columbia Gorge. The house was featured on the Parade of Homes in 2004.
Brigham conducted the fraud scheme while on release pending appeal for a previous Federal conviction for loan fraud. He now faces a mandatory sentencing enhancement for committing the crimes while on release.
In all, Brigham was convicted of 17 counts of mail and wire fraud, 3 counts of money laundering, and one count of Social Security fraud. The jury acquitted Brigham of two counts of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.
Brigham has a history of investigations with state regulators spanning nearly twenty years. The Oregon Department of Justice has repeatedly obtained injunctions to prevent Brigham from conducting illegal businesses.
U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut stated that, “For nearly 20 years Brigham has held himself out as a legitimate businessman. The charade is over. The jury’s verdict establishes that Brigham is a con man.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service joined forces to investigate this case, with the assistance of the Oregon State Department of Consumer and Business Services.
“The jury sent a clear message to Clifford J. Brigham that his criminal behavior will not be tolerated,” said Kenneth J. Hines, the IRS Special Agent in Charge for the Pacific-Northwest. “Federal law enforcement is not going to sit on its hands and allow flimflam artists to victimize the American public by trying to steal from us the dream of home ownership.”
“Given the mortgage crisis in this country, the FBI will aggressively pursue those who target and exploit this type of victim,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel Nielsen, Portland FBI. “Working families deserve a chance at home ownership without the risk of falling into a scam such as this.”
“This case demonstrates that even in this age of sophisticated technology, the U. S. Mail and commercial carriers are still used, and at times misused to convey items of value,” said Ronald Verrochio, Inspector in Charge of the Postal Inspection Service in Seattle. “As Postal Inspectors, it is our job to preserve the sanctity of the mail and prevent its misuse for fraudulent purposes. It is vital to leverage resources and work with other agencies in a task force approach. We are more effective in combating these complex white collar crimes by working together.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dwight C. Holton and Kemp Strickland. For further information, you can contact Gerri Badden, Public Information Officer, at 503-727-1033.Clifford J. Brigham, 60, was convicted by a jury last year in U.S. District Court in Portland of 21 counts of fraud and money laundering.
Mr Tran was a profesional Scam. He trapped several people good credit and promised that his company R and K Real Estate Inc will take care all payments. But each house he got CASH back money and used Mr Liem D Tran to cash money out for him. He made up several false documents , hyper the InCOME ...
He defrauded several Million dollars and cash back around 100 K to 150 K per house.
He was an agent for
HSBC credit Card. He abused his posion and made several false documents to submit to Banks....
Hope You concern and investigation about Mr Phong Dinh Tran
Posted by on 07/23 at 07:15 PM
To add on to Phong D Tran’s story. He has put many people on the street, including me in a couple months. He and his “crew” have came up with many scams including Identity theft, mortgage fraud, social security fraud, and other white collar crimes. He has made millions with not working one day. I have contacted the police, FBI, banks, and many more. No one said that they would help me out. So if you are caught in a scam, good luck with the law being on your side.
Posted by on 07/24 at 09:13 PM
Mortgage fraud is an epidemic that continues to be around and it can take form in many different ways (foreclosure rescue schemes, illegal flipping, etc). One form of mortgage fraud is a “straw buyer” scheme. This is how it works: The participants The most important piece to this scheme is the buyer.
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Cindy
Defaulted Loans May Haunt Seniors On Line WSJ.Com
A little-noticed law could soon result in smaller Social Security checks for hundreds of thousands of the elderly and disabled who owe the U.S. money from defaulted loans and other debts more than a decade old.
Oregon to Help Homeowners Prevent Foreclosures CBS State
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.
Couple Loses $850,000 in Alleged Ponzi Scheme Boston Herald
Al and Susan McIlvene of Kittery Point, Maine, can remember the exact moment in November when they realized they might lose their entire life savings of $850,000, reports the Portsmouth Herald.
Mortgage Fraud Charges Filed Against Former Bakersfield Realtor, Her father KGET.Com
A former Bakersfield real estate agent and her father face 15 felony counts each of money laundering, conspiracy and grand theft in connection with an alleged multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme, newly filed court charges show.
Witness: Mortgage Name Not the Same Clarion Ledger
A former Clinton homeowner was called to testify Wednesday as prosecutors to try to prove a Ridgeland-based mortgage broker and two associates were behind a $9 million mortgage fraud scheme.
Man Accused of Money Laundering, Theft in Moorpark Home Purchase Case VC Star
A man suspected of grand theft and money laundering in connection with the 2005 purchase of a $1.8 million home in Moorpark was arrested this week while trying to enter the United States from Mexico, authorities said Wednesday.
Special Prosecutor for Leary Rejected Journal Gazette
An Allen Superior Court judge denied a request to appoint a special prosecutor in the case of Todd Leary, a former Indiana University basketball player and radio commentator charged with 17 felonies in connection with a mortgage funds scheme.
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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