Michael Anthony Hickson, 48, Commack, New York, former chief financial officer of Metro Dream Homes, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme which promised to pay off homeowners’ mortgages on their “Dream Homes,” but left them to fend for themselves. Hickson was also convicted of making a false statement in a federal court proceeding. Judge Titus also ordered that Hickson pay restitution in the full amount of the loss, with the exact amount to be determined at a later hearing.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeannine A. Hammett of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler; and Inspector General Jon T. Rymer of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Su and Bryan E. Foreman.
“Maryland’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force is working to hold criminals accountable, recover illegal proceeds and deter future crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “Metro Dream Homes is one of our most egregious fraud prosecutions, but it is only one of many mortgage fraud cases we are pursuing.”
This case was just one of the significant matters prosecuted in the District of Maryland in the year since Operation Stolen Dreams was executed by the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. Operation Stolen Dreams targeted mortgage fraudsters in the District of Maryland and throughout the country.
The President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. For more information on the task force, visit StopFraud.gov.
Another Feeley Investigator in your district!
WHY ONLY TEN YEARS? YOU CANT STOP THE SCAMERS WITH ONLY A SMALL TIME IN JAIL.REMEMBER, THESE PEOPLE WLL HAVE CAUSED GREAT HARM THAT WILL LAST OTHERS A LIFETIME.BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE USEING THE FORECLOSED HOMES AS A BUSINESS FOR SCAMING THE PUBLIC. GEORGE UBER USN RET.