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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Rebecca Hauck Pleads Guilty in Three State Mortgage Fraud Spree
Rebecca Hauck, the alleged girlfriend and co-conspirator of mortgage fraud ‘poster child’ Matthew Cox, plead guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy and one count of bank fraud. Hauck faces a maximum of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge. In the plea agreement, the government stated that it will request a sentence at the low end of the guideline sentencing range. The plea agreement does not contain a statement of facts although another document was filed under seal a couple of weeks before entry of the plea agreement. Hauck is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2006.
Rebecca Hauck, who was indicted by federal authorities in Georgia on September 29, 2005, was arrested by federal authorities in Texas in March of 2006 where she was found living under a stolen identity. Cox was not found and remains a fugitive. “Matthew Cox must be found,” said James H. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “The public can help us with this endeavor. Anyone with information about Cox’s whereabouts can contact the Secret Service toll-free, 24 hours a day at 1-877-242-3375. Additional information about Cox can be found on the Secret Service’s
“This case involves significant losses to victim lenders in several states. Even worse, the scheme clouded property titles on numerous residences when the defendants stole homeowners’ identities and placed multiple loans on the houses” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “We hope the public can help us locate Matthew Cox so that he too can be brought to justice.”
In connection with her arrest, Georgia authorities unsealed a 42-count indictment charging Cox and Hauck with conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, bank fraud, frauds and swindles, transportation of stolen property, money laundering and fraud with identification documents.
Cox and Hauck are alleged to have perpetrated a mortgage fraud scheme that spanned at least three states. The first portion of the scheme allegedly occurred in Tampa, Florida in 2003. Cox and Hauck then disappeared and showed up in Atlanta, Georgia where they are alleged to have again engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme and disappeared before being caught. Last year, Cox was almost caught in South Carolina but managed to elude authorities and disappear after allegedly obtaining over $1M in mortgage loans from his South Carolina operations. Prior to embarking on the alleged mortgage fraud spree, Cox is rumored to have written a 317-page novel entitled The Associates which details the fraud scheme in which he is alleged to have later engaged.
According to the indictment, between November 2003 through September 27, 2005 Cox and Hauck engaged in a complicated scheme to defraud mortgage lenders and obtain false identifications. They would set up contact information and histories in the names of stolen identities, including telephone numbers, apartments, employers, credit cards and bank accounts. According to authorities, Cox obtained a number of the stolen identities from homeless people by posing as a Red Cross worker taking a survey. Cox and Hauck then obtained possession of residential properties in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and elsewhere by using the stolen identities to either rent or promise to purchase the properties. Once they obtained possession, they would fraudulently cancel the liens securing outstanding mortgage loans against the properties and then, on occasion, file a fraudulent lien on the property in the name of a shell company. They would then obtain multiple mortgage from lenders on the same properties at the same time in the name of the stolen identities. Cox and Hauck would then have the closing attorneys pay the loan proceeds to the defendants in the names of stolen identities or to the shell companies. They would then deposit these checks in to bank accounts in the names of the stolen identities or shell companies. They are also accused of obtaining vehicle loans and credit cards in the names of stolen identities. The 63 page indictment contains detailed allegations of the scheme. Hauck‘s aliases include Theresa A. Knight, Donna Anne Martin, Michielle Vayomi Joseph, Michielle Robinson Joseph and Grace E. Hudson. Aliases used by Michael Cox include Maxwell Price, David R. Freeman, Gerald Scott Cugno, Michael S Shanahan, Michael J. Eckert, Gary L. Sullivan and David White.
I constantly trumpet the tune that Cash Back At Closing is illegal. In return I receive much more than strange looks - what I get in return even includes threats. Fighting against “investment gurus” who spend tens of thousands of dollars marketing their workshops is difficult, at best, to compete with - but nothing beats truth and grass roots. Thank you for keeping these stories alive. I refer to them regularly in my Real Estate Investment QuickStart Workshop and use examples just like this to drive the point home to new investors by the dozens every week. Thank you! (And if you are any lender is not using DISSCO - shame on them! I used to Google, Si___X, Reverse Lookup, County Clerks ... and it took at least an hour to QC just one file. DISSCO has saved my day!)
Posted by on 01/23 at 03:52 PM
I have had my identity stolen by officers of the law Ha Ha they are sean magnussen and marth bual who is japanese and used to be martha bual not to mention bueller or buel just goes to show ya how phishing works.. cant even trust your tax payers dollars can ya?
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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