Collette Snyder, 42, Timonium, Maryland, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for stealing closing funds from Maple Leaf Title.

James Kevin Hughes, 53, Crownsville, Maryland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William N. Nickerson to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of approximately $3.1 million.

Gary Pierce, 44, Edgewater, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a five year scheme to divert or hold mortgage payoff funds from clients’ closings on 17 Maryland properties.

Stephen J. Troese, Sr., 72, Davidsonville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to wire fraud arising from a scheme to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of at least $937,183.

Brenda Lukenich, 60, Hughesville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to mail fraud arising from a scheme to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of $1.7 million. Two co-defendants are scheduled for trial on November 7, 2011.