Real Estate Broker Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A Methuen real estate broker was sentenced today in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Greisy Jimenez, 50, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to three years in prison, four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a fine of $12,500. The court will determine issues of restitution…
Press release
August 06, 2018
Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Unlawful Loan Modification and Money Laundering After Defrauding Nearly $2.3 Million from 387 Homeowners
(Source: orangecountyda.org)
Case # 17CF2429
Date: July 17, 2018
MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL LOAN MODIFICATION AND MONEY LAUNDERING AFTER DEFRAUDING NEARLY $2.3 MILLION FROM 387 HOMEOWNERS
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted and sentenced on Friday to eight years in state prison for operating an unlawful loan modification and money laundering scam that defrauded nearly $2.3 million from 387 homeowners.
…
Article
July 19, 2018
Real Estate Attorney Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A real estate attorney was sentenced today in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Jasmin Polanco, 37, of Methuen, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 15 months in prison, three year of supervised release and ordered to pay $1,224,489 in restitution. In March 2018, Polanco…
Press release
June 21, 2018
Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Arrested for Stealing from HUD Programs
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN F. HARVIN, 53, of New Haven, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and theft from programs receiving federal funds.
After his arrest, HARVIN appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and was released on a $50,000 bond.
According to the complaint, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with…
Press release
June 11, 2018
Former Charity Executive Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Embezzlement Scheme
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former executive of a Springfield, Missouri charity, who was also an Arkansas lobbyist, pleaded guilty in federal court today to bribing Arkansas elected officials in a multi-million-dollar scheme, and then along with other charity executives, embezzling millions of dollars from the Springfield health care organization.
Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S.…
Press release
June 07, 2018
Mortgage Loan Officer Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A mortgage loan officer was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Vanessa Ricci, 41, of Methuen, a mortgage loan officer, was sentenced to six months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $963,730. In March 2018, Ricci pleaded…
Press release
May 28, 2018
Former Loan Officer Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Role In $6 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. – A Jackson, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for his role in a large-scale mortgage fraud scheme that used phony documents and straw buyers to acquire more than $6 million in loans, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Joseph DiValli previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one…
Press release
May 21, 2018
Man Accused Of Defrauding Seniors Wants Out Of Jail
CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s back to jail, at least for now, for a man accused of defrauding more than 100 Chicago seniors.
CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports a federal judge hasn’t yet decided if Mark Diamond should be released on bond.
Barbara Bailey’s mother was a victim.
She says she wants the man responsible to stay in jail.
“If Mr. Diamond is out, he can still go into the neighborhood or contact people to still scheme and defraud people,” says Bailey.…
Article
April 11, 2018
Bond hearing for man accused of scamming elderly out of homes
CHICAGO -- A man accused of scamming elderly Chicagoans out of their homes was in federal court Thursday for a bond hearing.
Prosecutors want the judge to deny bond for Mark Diamond.
He and an alleged accomplice, Cynthia Wallace, are charged with fraud.
Prosecutors say they conned people into fake reverse mortgages, swindling $10 million.
There are 120 victims, mostly black women on the South and West sides.
Some have died.
Article
April 11, 2018
Five Individuals Charged In Phony Debt Elimination Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. - Five individuals were arrested this morning and charged with using phony money orders, cashier’s checks, receipts and other fabricated documents to fraudulently discharge mortgages, student loans, and other financial obligations, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Melissa Reynolds, 42, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with three counts of conspiracy to commit bank and mail fraud, two counts of bank fraud,…
Press release
March 19, 2018
Deloitte & Touche Agrees to Pay $149.5 Million to Settle Claims Arising From Its Audits of Failed Mortgage Lender Taylor, Bean & Whitaker
The Justice Department announced today that Deloitte & Touche LLP has agreed to pay the United States $149.5 million to resolve potential False Claims Act liability arising from Deloitte’s role as the independent outside auditor of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (TBW), a failed originator of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“With taxpayer…
Press release
February 28, 2018
Convicted ex-lender who defrauded taxpayers is skimping on victim payments while living large, feds say
Lonnie Brantley Jr. avoided prison by striking a plea deal for lying to federal housing regulators during an investigation into his troubled mortgage lending business.
But almost three years after his 2015 conviction, Brantley is facing the prospect of being locked up. That’s because he has repeatedly dodged his $3.3 million restitution obligation, prosecutors say, while living in a 5,300-square-foot Southlake home, driving luxury vehicles and…
Article
February 28, 2018
Essex County Loan Officer Charged With Mortgage Fraud
NEWARK N.J. – A Nutley, New Jersey, man was charged today with using fraudulent documents to deceive his employer into approving a loan, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Richard Patino, 42, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was released on bail.
According to the complaint:
Patino was a loan officer with a mortgage…
Press release
February 04, 2018
Defendant Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Defrauding Mortgage Lending Institutions
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Dirk Hall was sentenced by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano to 41 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme.
Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentencing…
Press release
January 28, 2018
Real Estate Broker Pleads Guilty to Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
BOSTON – A Methuen real estate broker pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a sweeping conspiracy to defraud banks and mortgage companies by engaging in sham “short” sales of residential properties in Merrimack Valley.
Greisy Jimenez, 50, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2018. In March 2017, co…
Press release
January 17, 2018
Stratford Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud
John H. Durham. United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARRYLL HARMON, 44, of Stratford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of bankruptcy fraud.
According to court documents and statements made in court, HARMON was in default on his HUD-insured mortgage, which was held by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (“CHFA…
Press release
December 17, 2017
U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Suburban Mortgage Brokers with Fraud for Allegedly Controlling Property Appraisals in Scheme to Defraud Lenders
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago has charged two suburban mortgage brokers with fraudulently operating a purportedly independent appraisal management company to control property valuations, and brokering fraudulent loans to finance real estate transactions between themselves and nominees.
STEVEN L. GARCIA and his brother, MICHAEL R. GARCIA, operated American Financial Mortgage Services Inc., a licensed mortgage brokerage in…
Press release
December 13, 2017
Fugitive in Multi-Million Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme Named in Grand Jury Indictment Alleging Series of Fraudulent Real Estate Loans
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Distribution November 29, 2017
LOS ANGELES – A longtime fugitive was named today in a nine-count indictment that alleges he participated in a $9 million loan fraud scheme that targeted Wells Fargo Bank. Napoleon Olarte, 40, who is believed to be in Venezuela after fleeing the United States approximately eight years ago, was indicted late this afternoon by a federal grand jury.
The indictment alleges that…
Press release
November 30, 2017
A.G. Schneiderman Announces Guilty Plea Of Brooklyn Real Estate Developer Daniel Melamed
(Source: longisland.com) Brooklyn, NY - November 27, 2017 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that Brooklyn real estate developer Daniel Melamed pleaded guilty today in Kings County Supreme Court to a 13-count indictment, including Residential Mortgage Fraud in the Second Degree and two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, class C felonies; as well as four counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, four counts of Criminal…
Article
November 28, 2017
Wethersfield Woman Involved in Debt Elimination Scheme is Sentenced
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that URMILA SRI THAKUR, also known as Urmila Buddhu-Thakur and Indro Buddhu-Thakur, 73, of Wethersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to four years of probation, the first four months of which THAKUR must serve in home confinement, for her role in a fraudulent debt elimination scheme.
According to court documents and…
Press release
November 21, 2017