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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Roy E. Smith, 33, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a fifteen month period of imprisonment, to be followed by a five year period of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $290,952.40 on his conviction for bank fraud.
According to information presented to the court, Smith, a minister who was acting on behalf of his church, the Church of Dominion, which was formerly located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, submitted false financial information and false information about church assets and indebtedness, to five banks in connection with eight loans obtained by him between September 2004 and September 2005. The loans, which totaled $824,000, were obtained by Smith in connection with his acquisition of the church facilities in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to which the Church of Dominion relocated in early 2005. Losses to the banks from several of the fraudulently obtained loans which have defaulted total approximately $290,952.40.
Prior to imposing sentence, United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti stated that the period of incarceration was necessary to address the seriousness of the offense, and to deter others from similar conduct.
I go to Pastor Roy Smith’s church. I figured you would like to know that my pastor’s conviction was overturned. My pastor was told by his mortage broker that the paperwork was up to par! SO it was the mortage broker who lied.
Posted by on 09/25 at 09:06 AM
Pastor Smith’s conviction was NOT overturned. The appellate courts have no record of an appeal in his case. He did file a request to be allowed to serve the last 6 months of his sentence in a community facility or in home confinement, which was denied.
Posted by on 03/04 at 07:14 AM
Actually, the request for the last 6 months was denied because the Camp where he was placed had already completed paperwork to release him 5 months prior to the end of his sentence. The judge denied his request because of these factors and added her own recommendation with that “denial” recomendidng him to be released to community custody. He was released on 8-14-07 with federal supervison until January 7, 2008. I know because I was at his release party at the church and saw him each week after that. He also worked at the church’s school. His total time away from home was only 8 months not 15. He has admitted his error in all of that stuff way back when it happened in 2005, and all the money went to the church properties not to him or his family, now let him get on with his life. I trust he will have learned from it and becomes even more succesful in his future. He is far from perfect, but I know he is forgiven.
Posted by on 12/27 at 02:34 PM
Pastor Roy E. Smith is a true Man of God anyone close to him right now can see how he has grown so much in the last few years! Although I hope he hires an accountant to handle the churches money issues not amatures.
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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