Angela M. Blythe, 51, Oakland, Maryland, was indicted on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud and making a false statement to a bank for her alleged role in preparing deeds, mortgages and notes in false identities, then recording those fraudulent documents thereby concealing the true owner of the properties.
The indictment was returned on December 16, 2014.
According to the four count indictment, Blythe was an attorney licensed to practice in Maryland and West Virginia, with an office in Oakland, Maryland. The indictment alleges that Blythe, who also acted as a settlement attorney for real estate transactions, participated in a scheme with Samuel R. VanSickle, to defraud financial institutions.
Specifically, the indictment alleges that Blythe prepared deeds, mortgages and notes for VanSickle in false identities, then recorded those fraudulent documents in the official land records of Garrett County, Maryland and Preston County, West Virginia, which concealed VanSickle’s ownership and control of the properties.
Blythe also allegedly conducted property settlements in which VanSickle participated as buyer, seller and/or borrower through the use of false identities, which Blythe concealed from the lenders. The indictment alleges that Blythe failed to conduct the settlement transactions as described on the settlement statement and paid over the seller’s proceeds as VanSickle directed.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of $1,725,000, alleged to be proceeds of the scheme to defraud the bank.
Blythe faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy and for the bank fraud; and 30 years in prison for each of two counts of making a false statement to a bank. An initial appearance has not yet been scheduled.
Samuel R. VanSickle, 50, Accident, Maryland, and Louis W. Strosnider, III, were previously indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy and bank fraud charges in a related case. VanSickle is scheduled to go to trial on March 16, 2015. On August 7, 2014, Strosnider pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, 2015.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Joyce K. McDonald, who is prosecuting the case.
This is happening in Louisiana my home is being taken the lawyers said they were hired by Chase and after I contacted Chase they said they had nothing to do with the suit. Another homeowner they said the company assignment the property that company said they didn’t. Wrote AG office but nothing is being done.
If you cannot pay your mortgage payment, if you are in arrears and unable to tender funds -it is irrelevant if Chase, MERS, your Original Lender or a GSE is the NAMED party filing dispossessory or Foreclosure documents on your property.
If you have substantial equity in your property, a temporary short term payment issue and are not being treated fairly by your servicer- immediately report the issue via the consumer portal at cfpb.gov and go online to your AG’s site-if you are behind on your mortgage and cannot pay it- claiming the entity isn’t entitled to conduct the foreclosure is a fruitless waste of time and effort.
Good Luck