Reunion Mortgage, Inc. and its former co-owners, David Thayer, and R. Kent Harvey, have agreed to pay $1.04 million to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to the Federal Housing Administration in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-33.
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Randy Lee Wilkins, 48, Gilroy, California, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for carrying out a mortgage fraud scheme in Fresno, California.The defendant and his co-conspirators defrauded lenders by using fraudulent loan applications misrepresenting their income, assets, liabilities and intent to occupy the residences.
Bradley Holcom, 55, a real estate developer, admitted soliciting investors to provide funds for commercial and residential development through an investment program he operated called the Trust Deed Investment Program. Holcom falsely told investors that they would receive a lien on a specific piece of property he was developing and that the lien would enable them to take priority over any other potential liens or interests in the property.
Laura Ortuondo, 33, formerly of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo to one count of making false statements to federal agents concerning her role in a nearly five-year cover-up of a scheme to defraud La Jolla Bank in connection with a $1.8 million loan that her former boss sought from the bank.
Ronald Russell was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in state prison for running a rent-to-own real estate Ponzi scheme. Russell was also ordered to surrender his real estate license issued by the California Bureau of Real Estate.
Manuel Herrera, 34, Sacramento, California, a licensed real estate agent, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme wherein the defendant and his conspirators conspired to obtain home loans from mortgage lenders based upon false and fraudulent loan applications.
Johnny Eugene Grivette Jr., 39, Magalia, California, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Mendez to four and a half years in prison for his participation in a mortgage fraud scheme involving straw buyers and the payment of commissions to appraisers who would artificially inflate values.
Julie Dianne Farmer, 45, Bakersfield, California, was convicted by a federal jury finding her guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud, and two counts each of mail fraud and wire fraud. The charges stem from her involvement in an extensive straw buyer scheme that ran from January 2004 to September 2007.
Steve Kessedjian, 51, Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 21 months in prison for stealing refinance funds intended to pay off debts, which forced the borrowers into bankruptcy…
William Barry Blythe, 67, Murrieta, California, has been arraigned and pled guilty to carrying out a scheme to defraud homeowners, mortgage lenders, and the U.S. Bankruptcy courts in the Southern and Central Districts of California. He also admitted that he willfully failed to adequately report over $175,000 in taxes owed on his income.