A 64-year-old Easton man – using 13 different alias names – has been arrested in what federal officials call a long-running fraud scheme that targeted dozens of distressed homeowners.

Timothy W. Burke was arrested Thursday for a using a scheme he allegedly created to defraud individuals, mortgage lenders and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by falsely representing to homeowners who were in, or facing, foreclosure on their homes that he would purchase their homes and pay off their mortgages.

In believing what “Tim Burke,” “William Burke,” “Bill Burke,” “Jeff Burke,” “Kerry Saunders,” “Pat Riley,” “Jim Caldwell,” “Jim Saunders,” “Tom Morrisey,” “Jimmy,” “Phil Burke,” “Phil,” or “Burt” said, many homeowners ultimately lost their houses because Timothy W. Burke (his real name) never paid off the mortgages or negotiated with the lenders, federal officials said.

A former Pittsburgh policeman honored last year for his proactive policing on the North Side admitted in federal court Monday to his role in a mortgage fraud scheme involving a defunct South Hills company whose president is awaiting trial.

Santino Achille, who resigned from the force Nov. 5, waived indictment before U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose and pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy in submitting loan applications that he knew contained false information.

Mr. Achille was involved in a scheme with Century III Home Equity, owned by James Nassida, who was charged last year with bank and wire fraud along with his top loan officer, Robert Denne.