Karen Strasser Steinke, 65, Millstadt, Illinois, was sentenced to twenty-one months imprisonment followed by three years supervised release as a result of her convictions for Wire Fraud in a scheme to defraud clients of Metro East Title, and Structuring of Financial Transactions to Avoid Currency Transaction Reporting Requirements. Evidence showed that Steinke took the funds to support a gambling habit.
Gregory Fusca, 46, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was sentenced to 170 months in prison, in connection with his operation of RC Innovations, Inc. (RCI), a fraudulent timeshare company located in Palm Beach County. Among the false representations for which he was sentenced were claims that: RCI had buyers for their timeshare units; RCI had closing scheduled for their timeshares; and that RCI would actively market their timeshares to potential buyers.
HOPE NOW, the voluntary, private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors, released its May 2014 loan modification data. An estimated 37,000 homeowners received permanent, affordable loan modifications from mortgage servicers during the month.
Associate Attorney General Tony West outlined the Justice Department’s approach to resolving the remaining cases related to Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) misconduct that contributed to the financial crisis. West declared that the department would not hesitate to bring litigation against these firms if these principles were not met.
Karl Oreste, 56, Miramar, Florida, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. The defendant and his co-conspirators operated a multi-million dollar straw buyer mortgage fraud scheme.
Robert Serao, 48, Bayville, New Jersey, who used his position as a loan officer of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Inc., to get the company to release more than $4.6 million on fraudulent mortgage loan applications was sentenced to 24 months in prison for his role in a $40.8 million mortgage fraud conspiracy.
Thomas G. France, 44, Strongsville, Ohio, a real estate agent, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for his role in a $3.3 million mortgage fraud scheme involving six properties in Medina, Ohio.
Pedro “Pete” Benevides, 44, Astatula, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for his role in obtaining 20 commercial and residential loans based on false information and documents.
Craig A. Howell, 53, Sylvester, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 12 months in federal prison for making false statements to a federally insured financial institution by acting as a straw borrower.
Thomas Edward Rosensteel III, 41, Excelsior, Robert Scott “Rod” Aslesen, 65, Little Canada, Justin Joseph Christenson, 34, East Bethel, and Dale Russell Wurzinger, 57, Burnsville, Minnesota, have been indicted and charged in connection with the Split Rock Realty mortgage fraud investigation.