Mom and Son Sentenced for Forging Documents to Obtain Mortgage

Allison Tussey —  September 2, 2014 — Leave a comment

Charlette Henderson, 42, and her son Lanikein Henderson, 25, both of Brandon, Mississippi, have been sentenced in Mobile County, Alabama, for residential mortgage fraud. Charlette received a 48 month suspended sentence, while her son received a 24 month suspended sentence. Each was ordered to pay $2,093.37 to AFC Mortgage, court costs, and $100 to Alabama Victims Crime Fund.

The two had pleaded guilty in Mobile County Circuit Court to one count each of residential mortgage fraud, a Class C felony. Both were residents of Mississippi at the time of the offense.

According to prosecutors, on or about May 2010, Lanikein Henderson was involved in the process of purchasing a home that was located in Pearl, Mississippi. AFC Mortgage Corporation, Mobile, Alabama, was the mortgage broker who approved his loan to purchase the home.

After the loan was approved and the home was purchased by Lanikein Henderson, it was discovered that he had submitted a forged cashier’s check in the amount of $7,500 that was purported to be a gift from Charlette Henderson, as well as a fraudulent bank statement as proof that he had funds to make the down payment on the home. It was discovered that the cashier’s check was actually made out to a dealer finance company in the amount of $4,500 for the benefit of Charlette Henderson and that the cashier’s check had been cashed. The Hendersons claimed that the $7500 cashier’s check was a gift from Charlette to Lanikein.

AFC Mortgage relied on the misrepresentations made by the Hendersons that the $7,500 cashier’s check was a gift from Charlette and that it was legitimate. AFC Mortgage based its decision to approve the loan on the misrepresentations made by Charlette and Lanikein Henderson.

Attorney General Luther Strange announced the convictions.

Attorney General Strange commended those involved in bringing this case to a successful conclusion, noting in particular Assistant Attorneys General Stephanie Billingslea, Division Chief, and James Henry Rutter III, of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trials Division, as well as Special Agents of his Investigations Division.

“It is important for the protection of all consumers that mortgage companies receive honest and accurate information so that decisions can be based on fair and sound business practices,” said Attorney General Strange. “Those who commit residential mortgage fraud make the system less safe for all of us, and they will be prosecuted for their crimes.”

Allison Tussey

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