imageRachel Dollar is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles fraud recovery litigation for lenders and secondary market investors nationwide. She is a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar

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Feds Get Tough on Mortgage Fraud

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Recent Posts

- Mortgage Fraud Scheme Leads to 83 Count Indictment
- Beazer Homes Settles Accusations of Mortgage and Accounting Fraud
- Closing Agent Indicted for Misappropriating Funds
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- 4 Indicted For Using Stolen Identities to Obtain Loans
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- Loan Mod Company Ordered to Cease & Desist
- Former Mortgage Broker Pleads Guilty in $1.6 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Monday, July 02, 2007

Virginia Man Indicted in $1 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Anthony T. Harrelson, 29, of Midlothian, Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on nine counts of bank fraud and one count of money laundering arising from two separate schemes to defraud federally-insured financial institutions. 

According to court documents, in the first scheme beginning in September 2006, it is alleged that Harrelson used the equity in his $270,000 residence in Midlothian, Virginia, to secure home equity loans from eight separate federally-insured financial institutions.  In each loan application, Harrelson failed to disclose that he was applying for multiple lines of credit from other financial institutions.  At the closing on each loan, Harrelson certified that there were no other liens or encumbrances upon the property.

As a result of this scheme, Harrelson obtained equity lines of credit from each financial institution in amounts ranging from $115,000 to $165,000.  After the loans closed, Harrelson deposited cashier’s checks from each financial institution into a money market account at the Bank of Richmond, for a total deposit of $1,002,516.64.

The alleged total intended losses as a result of this scheme involving People’s Bank, BB&T, First Citizens Bank, Provident Bank, Union Bank and Trust, Central Virginia Bank, Bank of America, Wachovia Bank, and Millenium Bank were approximately $1,137,516.04.

The indictment also alleges that in May 10, 2007, Harrelson caused the filing of a fraudulent gift deed in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which purported to gift real property located in Midlothian, Virginia, to himself.  It is alleged that the owner of the property did not know and did not gift deed his real property to Harrelson.  In addition, the gift deed bore the notarization of a notary public, whose name does not appear in the Commonwealth’s registry of notary publics.

   

Posted by Staff Reporter on 07/02/07 at 04:26 AM
Mortgage FraudVirginia • Total comments: (10) (0) Trackbacks
  1. I’m really happy to see that some people are getting punished for defrauding people. It’s amazing how prolific fraud is in this industry. I left my last company because they were flat out lying to people about what type of loan program they were getting into. Amazingly, people still signed the documents when they didn’t match what the person thought he/she was getting. Sometimes they’d call the office and the Loan Officer’s would tell them to just disregard any discrepancies, that they would be resolved later. I’m in Irvine, California and have seen this happening everywhere.

    My only concern is these small-time crooks, of which there are thousands, are too small for the government to fry. I guess we’ll see what happens.

    John Crenshaw

    Posted by  on  07/02  at  12:33 PM
  2. Oh, he is going to fry. I know this person and the wife he left in the process. He is where he belongs. He is the greediest, most arrogent person I have ever met. This person failed to appear for his court date and commited numerous other crimes not even listed here. I’ve heard through the grapevine that he will be sentenced sometime mid-November. Can’t wait to hear the outcome. Hope to stay posted.

    Posted by  on  09/26  at  02:23 PM
  3. I understand Mr. Crenshaw’s concern, and and am pleased to report that Mr. Harrelson was convicted to 66 months in Federal Prison in Butner NC and 4 years probation under his parents roof on March 7, 2008. After attempting to plead insanity the sentencing scheduled in November was continued until this time. It’s really is a shame the statutory maximum for at least one of the counts could not have been exercised. While the term is a disappointment, at least he is where he belongs and can not defraud others… at least for now…

    Posted by  on  03/12  at  01:14 PM
  4. I knew anthony. never liked him. no one did. We all put up with him. When I heard about this it didnt susprize me. Glad to hear he didnt get away with it! but once again. he’s daddy will be taking care of him. Like he aways has and will.

    Posted by  on  06/13  at  10:09 AM
  5. Does anyone know the latest on this particular case?

    Posted by  on  01/12  at  10:16 AM
  6. Like Father, Like son.  How bout them apples Gene?

    Posted by  on  03/26  at  07:10 AM
  7. YO GENE!!!!  Lumpit!

    Posted by  on  03/26  at  07:14 AM
  8. does anyone know how I can get in touch with Gene?  My wife Janine always liked him, & we’re full time swingers now that I got chased out of the caster business(there was nobody left for me to sue!).

    Posted by  on  03/26  at  07:44 AM
  9. I just heard this, & it breaks my heart.  Anthony & I were lovers for 5 years(me: Catcher, Anthony: Pitcher) & I always wondered why he stopped returning my phone calls & video messages(XXX).  Do you think I could buy his customer list, cheap?

    Posted by  on  03/26  at  07:49 AM
  10. well greg I am sure he will be taken care of where he is and he probable won’t be the pusher.

    Posted by  on  04/15  at  03:22 PM

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mortgage fraud news



Today's News

Some Sources require Registration.

 

Erie Area Mortgage Broker Gets Prison in Fraud Case
GoErie.com - Erie, PA
Shortly before receiving a nearly three-year federal prison sentence, former mortgage office manager Francis R. Conti told the judge he never meant to defraud any of the homeowners caught up in a widespread local mortgage-fraud scheme.

Three Former Portland-Area Mortgage Brokers Face Fraud Charges
OregonLive.com - Portland, OR
Joel D. Surprenant, Michael Duc Han and Benjamin Lucian Lucescu all were charged with one count of obtaining mortgage loans through materially false and fraudulent pretenses.

Shaker Pair Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud Charges
Cleveland.com - Cleveland, OH
Two Shaker Heights residents recently pleaded guilty to charges involving a mortgage scheme with seven area houses and $3 million in fraudulent loans.

Feds File Charges in Five Mortgage Fraud Cases
Chicago Breaking News - Tribune - Chicago, IL
Federal charges were filed today against 37 people and four companies in five separate mortgage fraud cases.

Feds Fighting Back
Contra Costa Times - Walnut Creek, CA
Mortgage fraud has increased so dramatically in the San Joaquin Valley that a task force of federal, state and local agencies has been formed to fight back.

Private Investigator Sees Rise in Mortgage Fraud Due to Economy
PR Web - Ferndale, WA
In the past 12 months his firm has been retained to conduct over 300 mortgage fraud investigations, a 100% increase from 2007.

Former UGA, NFL Football Player Arthur Marshall Charged With Mortgage Fraud Claims
WJBF-TV - Augusta, GA
He is also accused of defrauding three banks in obtaining loans for seven different properties in Columbia and Richmond Counties.

Cuomo Subpoenas Loan Modification Companies
New York Times - United States
“The entire industry is a scam, in my opinion,” Mr. Cuomo said Tuesday. “These are services that homeowners don’t need to pay for in the first place.”

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Relating to Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Imperial Valley News - Holtville, CA
Scavitti admitted that between 2003 and August 2008 he unlawfully diverted mortgage funds that were wire transferred into his client office account to his own personal benefit, resulting in losses in excess of $2.5 million.

Fed Drug Report: Double Trouble for Metro Chicago
ABC7Chicago.com - IL
...Chicago street gang members run a network of legitimate businesses and have engineered mortgage fraud schemes, both to launder drug proceeds...

Previous Articles

TRIAL COVERAGE

Trial coverage provided by Anne Mitchell, Crazy Fish Realty.

Update - US v. F. Jeffrey Miller, et al.

Miller II: Judge Julie Robinson has ruled in favor of the defense motion granting a continuance for sentencing of the 3 convicted defendants: F. Jeffrey Miller, Steve Vanatta and Hallie Irvin. The three will now be sentenced after ruling on post trial motions set for August 10, 2009.

Vanatta has been in custody for over 2 years.  Vanetta filed a motion for his release pending sentencing. That motion was denied.

Miller remains free pending his sentencing. He has hired a new attorney who filed a motion to delay Miller's sentencing. In one post trial motion, the defense argues as to what assets are subject to seizure.

Defendant Todd Earnshaw is a Kansas City real estate Broker (and brother in law of Miller). Earnshaw has been indicted in what is commonly referred to as Miller I. A trial date for that matter has been set for January, 2010 in Topeka, Kansas.

The Government filed a motion to revoke Earnshaw's bond and remand him to custody while he awaits trial after learning that he allegedly committed the state crimes of Driving Under the Influence, Handicap Parking Violation and Failure to Control Speed to Avoid a Collision while on pretrial release. Notwithstanding finding that probable cause existed to believe that Earnshaw committed the aforementioned state crimes, Judge Robinson denied the motion, but ordered several strict conditions that Earnshaw must follow pending his trial.



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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.

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