Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Real Estate Agent Pleads Not Guilty In Ohio Fraud Scheme
Scott McCann, 45, Columbus, Ohio, has been arraigned and plead not guilty to charges stemming from a mortgage fraud scheme involving several Ohio properties. McCann was released on $100,000 bond with strict orders not to contact other persons involved in the scheme.
As previously reported by Mortgage Fraud Blog, Gihan Ahmed Ismail Zalat aka Gigi Zalat, 40, Columbus, Ohio, and McCann, were separately indicted for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated theft, money laundering and receiving stolen property.
Zalat is a former co-owner of the Happy Greek restaurant, South Campus Gateway, Ohio. McCann is a real-estate agent and former mortgage broker. The scheme took place between 2005 and 2007, and involved false documentation and misrepresentations in loan applications, property flips, the use of inflated appraisals and unauthorized kickbacks disguised as construction monies for home improvement. The 6 Ohio properties included in the indictment (partially redacted) are:
XXX9 Loch Levin;
XXX8 Willow Bend Lane;
XXX8 Coldwater Drive;
XXX2 Sierra Drive;
XXX7 Royal County Down;
XXX5 Coachmen; and
XXX2 Grennan Woods, all of the Dublin and Powell area, Ohio.
According to the indictment, the monies obtained in the scheme were laundered through oversea shell corporations in an effort to disguise the origin of the funds.
mortgage fraud
This is some of the activity that added in this housing bubble and I hope they prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We need to send a signal that lender defraud is bad.
Posted by on 02/27 at 07:53 AM
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Some Sources require Registration.
Mortgage Scam Ends with Prison
The Morning Call
A judge didn't hold back when Shirley Matthews appeared before him Tuesday to be sentenced for stealing from a Monroe County man instead of helping him save his home from foreclosure, as she was hired to do.
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Pocono Record
A New Jersey woman will be spending two to five years in state prison after she was sentenced on Tuesday for promising to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and then keeping the money she was given for their mortgages.
2 Indicted in Mortgage Scam Face New Charges
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Prosecutors add extra charges to two who are charged in LI mortgage fraud with county legislator, dominatrix and her husband
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Why did so many units go into foreclosure all at once? In some cases, the reason can be traced to mortgage fraud.
No Contest Plea Entered in Real Estate Fraud Case
Northbay Business Journal
Juan Carlos Alcala of Windsor pleaded no contest to nineteen felony counts and admitted three special allegations for defrauding real estate investors, money laundering and elder fraud.
Bedford Woman Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Mortgage Fraud
Plain Dealer
Sharon Cox, 49, of Bedford, was sentenced today to a year in prison for mortgage fraud involving money laundering, theft and receiving stolen property from August 2008 through March.
CITIZEN JOURNALISM: Mortgage Fraud High in Area
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According to the FBI, Virginia, Maryland and the District are among the top 10 jurisdictions experiencing mortgage fraud.
Former Vegas Resident Charged with Mortgage Fraud in Nevada
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A former Las Vegas resident has been charged with federal conspiracy and fraud charges for his involvement in a Nevada mortgage fraud scheme involving straw buyers and falsified mortgage loan documents...
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A suburban St. Louis mortgage company operator has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for a mortgage fraud scheme.
12-Year Prison Term in Mortgage Swindle
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A Maryland woman who stole millions from Washington area homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure is a "vulture" whose case should serve as a warning to other con artists...
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Trial coverage provided by Anne Mitchell, Crazy Fish Realty.
F. Jeffrey Miller Update - October 20, 2009
A hearing was held in Topeka, Kansas in front of Judge Julie Robinson. Miller is currently being held pending his sentencing which is set for December 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.. Steve Vanatta and Hallie Irvin, Miller's codefendants, will be sentenced at that time also.
Several motions were heard this week. One was a motion for Miller to be released pending his sentencing. Miller's attorney, Jeff Morris, argued that the court had dismmissed with predjudice the matter involving Miller's purchase of a commercial lawnmower, violating the court ordered monitoring agreement. He also argued that Miller was not a flight risk and should be released. This motion was denied.
Another motion heard by Judge Robinson was that of an escrow account containing proceeds from the sale of Miller's forfeited assets. This account has a balance of $143,000. Attorney Morris argued that his firm was due $100,000 for work done in the Miller matter, to date. The government argued that his 'un-itemized fees' were 'exhorbitant'. The balance of the funds, Morris argued, should be released to the Miller family to help pay for mounting household expenses.
The government argued that the 'Asset Forfeiture Provision' applies down to 'the last penny' and that 'the rights of the victims to made whole are of paramount immportance' and that no routine household expenses like Visa bills, are allowed.
Attorney Morris argues that there is more than enough assets to satisfy the jury's judgement of $2.65 million dollars. The government argues that the estimated value of his assets are only $1.4 million.
The government also stated that Miller has been paid dividends from a company Miller has an ownership interest in; Boreflex. From July, 2008 to present, Miller has been paid $330,509.30 from Boreflex, unbeknownst to the court appointed monitor.
Present in the courtroom was Todd Earnshaw. Earnshaw was indicted along with Miller and others in what is commonly referred to as 'Miller I'. That trial is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010 in Topeka, Kansas.
More Trial Coverage
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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 
