Mortgage Fraud Blog | Tag Archive

Man Indicted for Scheme to Steal & Re-Sell Real Property

Stephanie Abbott — December 15, 2021 — Leave a comment

Franklin A. Olaitan, 48, Beltsville, Maryland, has been charged in a 10-count indictment with carrying out a scheme to steal a residence located in the District of Columbia and then reselling the property to an unsuspecting buyer.

As alleged in the indictment, Olaitan perpetrated a scheme in which he obtained a residential real property located in the 2000 block of First Street NW, District of Columbia by submitting false documents to lenders, a settlement company, and the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds. It is alleged that Olaitan quickly resold the residential property to an unsuspecting buyer and received the seller’s proceeds from both purported sales of the property. In the real estate closings, first, a lender paid approximately $420,000 and, second, a purchaser paid about $550,000.

Olaitan is charged with four counts of wire fraud, two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of identity theft, and one count of first-degree fraud. The indictment includes a notification of the United States’ intent to seek the forfeiture of any proceeds Olaitan received as a result of the fraud scheme, identity theft, and interstate transportation of stolen property.

Olaitan was arraigned today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The indictment against him was also unsealed today. He was released following his initial court appearance, pending further court proceedings.

The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Daniel Haines and Mariela Andrade.

In Mortgage Fraud False Documents, Identity Theft, Maryland

Seven Defendants Sentenced in $10 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Stephanie Abbott — October 20, 2021 — Leave a comment

Carlos Rafael Castaneda Mendez, 34, Miami, Florida, Alejandro Boada Oliveros, 45, Miami, Florida, Jonnathan Jesus Gonzalez, 33, Miami, Florida, Yanjeisis Alejandra Pompa Villafane, 25, Hialeah, Florida, Lilia Rosa Morales Moreno, 45, Miami, Florida, Katherine Hansen Mendoza, 25, Miami, Florida and Isbel Rodriguez Batista, 23, Teaneck, New Jersey were sent to federal prison for their roles in a fraud scheme that involved stealing identities, creating and using fake foreign passports, impersonating homeowners, and falsifying loan documents to trick lenders into providing millions of dollars of mortgage loans on unencumbered residential properties.

The scheme followed a general pattern. First, the fraudsters would identify residential homes with no mortgages, and absent owners, located in high-end South Florida neighborhoods. Next, using the names and other identity information of the true homeowners, the fraudsters created fake passports. Alongside the homeowners’ names, the fraudsters placed photographs of co-conspirators. Some of those co-conspirators appeared at loan closings posing as the homeowners. The fraudsters used the fake passports to apply for mortgage loans from private lenders and to open bank accounts in the homeowners’ names — accounts into which lenders wired the loan money. They used the stolen money to buy luxury cars, expensive watches, and other items. In total, the scheme drained close to $10 million of equity from South Florida homes.

Carlos Rafael Castaneda Mendez was sentenced to 78 months, Alejandro Boada Oliveros was sentenced to 46 months, Jonnathan Jesus Gonzalez was sentenced to 44 months, Yanjeisis Alejandra Pompa Villafane was sentenced to 28 months, Lilia Rosa Morales Moreno was sentenced to 30 months; Katherine Hansen Mendoza was sentenced to seven months and Isbel Rodriguez Batista, was sentenced to 30 months.

Charges against other defendants are pending. An indictment is only an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office; and Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office made the announcement.

USSS Miami, HSI Miami, and Aventura Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hauser is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no.: 20-cr-20155.

In Mortgage Fraud False Documents, Florida, Identity Theft

Fourth Defendant Sentenced for Running Sophisticated Real Estate Fraud Scheme

Stephanie Abbott — December 4, 2019 — Leave a comment

Latrese Gevon Breaux, 47, was sentenced today for helping run a sophisticated real estate fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $1.4 million from 2014 to 2016.

From July 2014 through September 2016, Angela Cotton, assisted by her co-defendants, used fictitious escrow and title companies that she had created to deceive a lending company into believing it was funding two legitimate real estate transactions.

The group stole the identities of nine people in order to facilitate the fictitious real estate sales. Along with the fake escrow and title companies, the defendants created a fictitious place of employment for one supposed homebuyer under whose name the two loans were approved, the prosecutor said.

To convince the lender of the legitimacy of the transactions and the entities involved, the defendants created fraudulent websites, emails and phone networks along with fake employment documentation and bank account statements from a non-existent financial institution for the borrower.

The lender transferred funds to a bank account it believed to be owned by a legitimate title company but was owned by one of the defendants.

The properties for which the defendants received loans were located in Los Angeles, California and La Cañada Flintridge, California and had not been listed for sale, the prosecutor added. http://www.mortgagefraudblog.com/?s=Latrese+Gevon+Breaux

Breaux, pleaded no contest on February 14, 2019 to one felony count each of grand theft and identity theft, and she admitted an allegation of fraud and embezzlement. She was sentenced to 212 days in county jail. She also is required to complete 200 hours community service and was placed on formal probation for five years under the terms of a plea agreement.

In October, Angela Grace Cotton, 47, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison after pleading no contest to three counts of identity theft, two counts of grand theft and one count each of forgery and money laundering, all felonies.

Denaysha Coleman, 27, was sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison after pleading no contest to one felony count each of grand theft and money laundering.

Lawrence Edward Cotton, 53, was sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading no contest to one felony count each of grand theft and money laundering.

All four defendants are required to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement.

Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel Kinney of the White Collar Crime Division’s Real Estate Fraud Section prosecuted case BA472018.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau.

In Mortgage Fraud California, fake escrow, Identity Theft

Three Sentenced for Running Sophisticated Real Estate Fraud Scheme

Stephanie Abbott — October 29, 2019 — Leave a comment

Angela Grace Cotton, 47, Denaysha Coleman, 27, Lawrence Edward Cotton, 52 have been sentenced for running a sophisticated real estate fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of more than $1.4 million from 2014 to 2016.

From July 2014 through September 2016, Cotton, assisted by her co-defendants, used fictitious escrow and title companies that she had created to deceive a lending company into believing it was funding two legitimate real estate transactions.

The group stole the identities of nine people in order to facilitate the fictitious real estate sales. Along with the fake escrow and title companies, the defendants created a fictitious place of employment for one supposed homebuyer under whose name the two loans were approved, the prosecutor said.

To convince the lender of the legitimacy of the transactions and the entities involved, the defendants created fraudulent websites, emails and phone networks along with fake employment documentation and bank account statements from a non-existent financial institution for the borrower.

The lender transferred funds to a bank account it believed to be owned by a legitimate title company but was allegedly owned by one of the defendants.

The properties for which the defendants received loans were located in Los Angeles and La Cañada Flintridge and had not been listed for sale, the prosecutor added.

Cotton was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in state prison after pleading no contest to three counts of identity theft, two counts of grand theft and one count each of forgery and money laundering, all felonies.

Coleman was sentenced to three years and eight months in state prison after pleading no contest to one felony count each of grand theft and money laundering.

Cotton was sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading no contest to one felony count each of grand theft and money laundering.

All three defendants admitted allegations of fraud and embezzlement resulting in the loss of more than $500,000.

They are required to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement.

A fourth defendant, Latrese Gevon Breaux, 47, pleaded no contest on February 14, 2019 to one felony count each of grand theft and identity theft, and she admitted an allegation of fraud and embezzlement.

She is expected to be sentenced to five years of formal probation and 106 days in county jail for time served on December 4, 2019 in Department 50 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. She also is required to complete 200 hours of community service under the terms of a plea agreement.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement today.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel Kinney of the White Collar Crime Division’s Real Estate Fraud Section prosecuted case BA472018.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau.

View PDF

In Mortgage Fraud California, fake escrow, Identity Theft

Businessman Indicted for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

Stephanie Abbott — June 6, 2019 — 1 Comment

Yale Schiff, 44, Riverwoods, Illinois, a north suburban businessman has been indicted on Wednesday, on bank fraud and identity theft charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in mortgage and vehicle loans and using stolen identities to secure credit from financial institutions.

Schiff made false statements in loan applications to obtain mortgage loans secured by a variety of properties, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charges allege that Schiff filed with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds fraudulent letters from financial institutions claiming that loans on the properties were paid in full and that the mortgages were released, when, in fact, the loans were not paid in full and the mortgages had not been released. Schiff then kept the financing paid by the banks, as well as proceeds from the eventual sales of the properties, without paying the mortgages, the indictment states.

The identity theft charges pertain to Schiff’s alleged use of multiple fake and stolen identities to fraudulently obtain loans for vehicles, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Lexus RX350. The indictment accuses Schiff of submitting to the Recorder’s office fake letters from financial institutions and false releases of the vehicle liens, claiming that the loans were paid in full. In reality, Schiff knew the letters were bogus and that the loans were not paid in full, the indictment states. Schiff then allegedly sold the vehicles, keeping the proceeds without paying the loans.

Schiff also used stolen identities to obtain lines of credit and credit cards, including a charge card at Nordstrom department store that he used for personal use, the indictment states. He then allegedly left large unpaid balances on the cards and the credit lines.

The charges allege that three of Schiff’s relatives and a business associate aided him in the schemes. The indictment seeks forfeiture of a personal money judgment of approximately $4.7 million, as well as a property in Riverwoods.

The indictment was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Craig Goldberg, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri H. Mecklenburg.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each bank fraud count is punishable by a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, while each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

In Mortgage Fraud Identity Theft, Illinois, Loan App. Misreps

Three Sentenced in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Stephanie Abbott — July 16, 2018 — Leave a comment

Dorothy Matsuba, 67, her daughter Jamie Matsuba, 33, and her husband, Thomas Matsuba, 67, all of Chatsworth, California, owners and/or managers of Los Angeles, California-area foreclosure rescue companies were sentenced to 240, 135, and 168 months in prison today for their roles in a foreclosure rescue scheme, respectively.

According to evidence presented at trial, from January 2005 to August 2014, Dorothy Matsuba, Jamie Matsuba, Thomas Matsuba and others engaged in a scheme to defraud financially distressed homeowners by offering to prevent foreclosure on their properties through short sales. Instead, the conspirators rented out the properties to third parties, did not pay the mortgages on the properties, and submitted false and fraudulent documents to mortgage lenders and servicers to delay foreclosure. The evidence further established that the conspirators obtained mortgages in the names of stolen identities. The defendants also used additional tactics, including filing bankruptcy in the names of distressed homeowners without their knowledge and fabricating liens on the distressed properties, the evidence showed. http://www.mortgagefraudblog.com/?s=Dorothy+Matsuba

Two other defendants have been charged in this matter. Defendant Jane Matsuba-Garcia, 42, Camarillo, California, previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Defendant Young Park Los Angeles, California, is a fugitive. In addition, in related cases, Jason Hong, 36, Chatsworth, California and Ryu Goeku, 48, Canoga Park, California, previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

All three Matsubas were sentenced by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner of the Central District of California. Judge Klausner also ordered the defendants to serve three years of supervised release. Restitution and forfeiture will be decided at a hearing on Aug. 13. All three defendants were remanded into custody. Dorothy Matsuba pleaded guilty on Dec. 4, 2017, to one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank or mortgage lending business, and identity theft, five counts of wire fraud, six counts of false statements to federally insured banks, and six counts of aggravated identity theft. On Dec. 13, 2017, after a one-week trial, Jamie Matsuba and Thomas Matsuba were both convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false statements to federally insured banks, and committing identity theft and one count of making false statements to federally insured banks.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna for the Central District of California, Assistant Director in Charge Paul D. Delacourt of the FBI’s Los Angeles Division, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Paul Conlon of the Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge R. Damon Rowe of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office, and Sheriff Jim McDonnell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI, FHFA-OIG, IRS-CI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Trial Attorney Niall M. O’Donnell, Senior Litigation Counsel David A. Bybee and Trial Attorney Jennifer L. Farer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Senior Trial Attorney Nicholas Acker previously worked on the investigation.

Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case should visit the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness website for more information.

In Mortgage Fraud California, Foreclosure Rescue, Identity Theft, Wire Fraud

Greensboro Man Convicted for Extensive Bank Lien Theft Scheme

Stephanie Abbott — March 29, 2018 — Leave a comment

Xavier Milton Earquhart, 30, Greensboro, North Carolina, was convicted following a three-day jury trial of an extensive bank lien theft scheme, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

The evidence at trial showed that, in one bank fraud scheme, the defendant forged a deed on a property owned by an out of state landowner, and then channeled the property ownership through fictitious individuals and a holding company before personally taking title to the property. The defendant then attempted to secure $495,000 in home equity loans using the property as collateral, becoming successful on three such attempts.

In a second scheme, the evidence showed that the defendant forged bank lien releases on 8 properties, in some instances, by stealing the identities of bank employees, and in other instances, using fictitious notaries. The defendant created Delaware holding companies to conceal his activities. The defendant then sold the properties off to unknowing third parties. At trial, the evidence showed that because of the defendant’s actions, some homeowners lost the funds that they had invested into the properties. Other victims were left uncertain as to the ability of their families to remain in the homes due to the cloud upon their title.

Lastly, the evidence at trial included evidence from law enforcement concerning the tracing of the defendant’s fraudulent gains. Law enforcement used a note and key found in the defendant’s Prius to uncover a hidden trove of $300,000 worth of gold, concealed in a storage unit in Spring, Texas. Law enforcement also seized various items of valuable recording studio equipment.

The jury found Earquhart guilty of ten counts of Bank Fraud, two counts of Engaging in Monetary Transactions Involving Criminally Derived Property and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft and Aiding and Abetting. Following the jury trial, the jury further found that the defendant was obligated to forfeit more than $1.3 Million in fraudulent proceeds, more than $100,000 in recording studio equipment, and $300,000 in gold bullion and coins.

Earquhart is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States District Judge W. Earl Britt in July 2018 and faces up to 30 years imprisonment.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of the Inspector General, the Wake County Register of Deeds, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service and the Bankruptcy Administrator for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the government in this case.

In Mortgage Fraud Bank Fraud, Identity Theft, North Carolina

Loan Officer Pleads Guilty and Appraiser Identity Theft Charged

Rachel Dollar — September 25, 2015 — 3 Comments

Franchesco Franco, 34, a former mortgage loan originator, Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for his participation with a local real estate attorney and others in a scheme to defraud Flagstar Bank, by filing a fraudulent mortgage loan application and supporting documentation in the name of a person known to him who had recently died, in order to secure a loan in the amount of $157,102 for the purchase of a residence at 63 Wendell Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

According to court documents, after the mortgage was issued, Franco filed fraudulent documents in the deceased person’s name in order to have his own name added to the deed for the property. Loan payments were never made to Flagstar Bank, an FHA-insured lender, by Franco or anyone else. As a result, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) paid an insurance claim to Flagstar Bank for the unpaid balance of the loan in the amount of $165,062. According to court documents, a corporation formed by the real estate attorney, an alleged co-conspirator in this matter, later purchased the note for $35,000. Continue Reading…

In Mortgage Fraud Appraiser, FHA Mortgage Fraud, Identity Theft, Loan Officer, Rhode Island

Former Bank Official Admits Disbursing Over $300K in Fraudulent Loans

Allison Tussey — May 14, 2015 — Leave a comment

Ardonus “Donna” Perkins, 40, Atlanta, Georgia, the former Assistant Vice President of Risk Management of the Credit Union of Georgia, has pleaded guilty to a charge of mail fraud for causing the credit union to disburse over $300,000 in fraudulent loans.

In Mortgage Fraud False Documents, Georgia, Identity Theft

Ringleader of Mortgage Fraud Scam Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

Allison Tussey — April 1, 2015 — Leave a comment

Edgar Tibakweitira, a/k/a Edgar Julian, Charles Edgar Tibakweitira, and Edgar Gaudious Tibakweitira, 46, Severn, Maryland, was sentenced by District Judge George J. Hazel to 57 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, arising from a residential mortgage fraud scheme.

In Mortgage Fraud Identity Theft, Maryland, Straw Buyer

Archives For Identity Theft