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Former Jersey City political candidate Alston, 2 others charged in mortgage scheme

Former state Senate and Assembly candidate Bruce Alston was arrested early Friday morning for his role in a sophisticated mortgage fraud scheme, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office announced this morning.

Alston, 44, of Jersey City was arrested along with his sister, Gail Alston, 50, and Maisha Taylor, 42, of Newark, who Alston described on his blog as his former girlfriend.

Bruce and Gail Alston and Taylor have been charged with making/possessing materials to make false government documents, false/tampering with record, theft-illegal retention, tampering with public records, false representation, theft by deception, impersonation and conspiracy to commit those crimes.

Fryar’s next day in court to focus on financial restitution

Former NFL football star Irving Fryar just finished his first week in a New Jersey state prison after a bitter court battle led to a guilty verdict in a $1.2 million mortgage scam.

But his next big fight – his restitution – looms.

On Nov. 9 state Superior Court Judge Jeanne T. Covert will hold a hearing in Mount Holly to determine how much Fryar must pay to the banks that he and mortgage broker William Barksdale victimized in late 2009 and early 2010 with the assistance of Fryar’s mother.

‘RHONJ’: Judge rejects Joe, Teresa Giudice’s foreclosure challenge on Montville mansion

Joe and Teresa Giudice’s gilded Montville Township mansion is almost as much a character on “Real Housewives of New Jersey” as the reality TV stars themselves — but for how much longer?

Joe and his four daughters continue to live in the mansion while Teresa is in federal prison, and they taped their three-part Bravo special “Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In” there. But a Superior Court judge in Morris County has rejected the couple’s attempt to contest foreclosure on the over-the-top home and granted summary judgment in favor of the mortgage holders, Community Bank of Bergen County

Hacker gets 9 years for ‘massive’ ID theft

For a time dubbed one of the San Diego FBI’s most wanted cyber fugitives, John Gordon Baden hid out in Tijuana, where he trafficked in the stolen identities of potential homeowners who applied for loans through a U.S. mortgage company.

By the time Mexican authorities arrested Baden in November 2014, U.S. investigators say his computer hack had given him access to more than a half-million loan documents containing names, social security numbers, addresses and email accounts.

2 sentenced in mortgage fraud scheme

A federal judge Tuesday sentenced two people to 30 months and 46 months in prison for their roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that involved seven properties in Honolulu and Kona.

Visiting U.S. District Senior Judge Charles R. Breyer sentenced Sakara Blackwell, the real estate broker formerly known as Dawn Sakaguchi, to the 30-month prison term. It was Blackwell who handled the sales of the properties that still had mortgages on them to buyers who were unaware of the mortgages.

Grand jury indicts brothers on grand theft charges

Two brothers accused of bilking a Castalia man out of $30,000 face felony charges of grand theft following a grand jury indictment in August, court records show.

Daniel Keegan, 45, of Castalia, and David Keegan, 47, of Sandusky, could face up to 18 months in jail after a Castalia man said he entered into an agreement to purchase real estate at 7349 E. Ohio 101 only to find out the brothers did not own the land and allegedly were not making mortgage payments to the bank.

Former Wilmington Trust president pleads not guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges

Former Wilmington Trust president Robert Harra Jr. was ordered released on bail Thursday after pleading not guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from an ongoing federal investigation into the collapse of the century-old financial institution.

Harra, 66, said little during his initial court appearance, only acknowledging that he understood the charges and maximum penalties he faces as outlined to him by U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke.

Real Estate Fraud: Victims of Ignacio Beato Fraud Seek Help

Dozens of residents in Hazleton are seeking for help after being scammed by a real estate agent who was at the same time their community leader. They all bought their houses from Ignacio Beato, who turned out to be selling homes with fraudulent deeds.

The Greater Hazleton Real Estate Association says there are about 50 complaints against Beato, a licensed real estate agent.

Sharrock denied shortened prison sentence

A federal judge has rejected David R. Sharrock’s request to overturn or shorten his 135-month sentence for mortgage fraud, concealment of property and fraudulent transfer in a bankruptcy.

U.S. District Court Judge Donald C. Nugent issued a ruling saying he believes testimony given during a July 28 hearing in Cleveland where Sharrock’s attorney, James McDonnell, told the court the 73-year-old inmate never asked him to file an appeal after he plea no contest in September 2013.

Trial delayed for former land developer accused in investment scheme

Defense attorneys for a former local real estate developer were granted a continuance Wednesday in Solano County Superior Court over a scheduling conflict.

Attorneys in the case of Richard D. Lamphere were ordered back to court Sept. 1 when a new trial date will be selected. A trial could possibly be set for March 2016, according to courtroom discussions.