USDOJ
California Real Estate Developer Convicted of Making Conduit Contributions in Two U.S. Congressional Campaigns
Today, a federal jury found an Oakland-area real estate developer guilty for funneling tens of thousands of dollars through straw donors into two consecutive congressional campaigns
Department of Energy Announces $40 Million in Funding for 29 Projects to Advance H2@Scale
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $40 million in FY 2019 funding for 29 projects to advance the H2@Scale concept.
Justice Department Resolves Claims that California Loan Modification Service Providers Discriminated Against Hispanic Homeowners...
The Department of Justice today announced a series of settlements to resolve allegations that several California-based mortgage loan modification service providers engaged in national origin discrimination in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act
Former Stuart Housing Authority Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds
A former Stuart Housing Authority employee pled guilty today to stealing government funds from the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Former Chairman of The Village of Hempstead Housing Authority Convicted By A Federal Jury...
A federal jury in Central Islip returned a guilty verdict today against Cornell Bozier, the former Chairman of the Board of Commissioners at the Village of Hempstead Housing Authority (VHHA) on four counts of an indictment charging
Two New Jersey Men Arraigned In Reverse Mortgage Scheme
A Passaic County, New Jersey, man and a Bergen County, New Jersey, man have been arraigned for their respective roles in a reverse mortgage scheme that took advantage of several elderly homeowners, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today
Justice Department Obtains $750,000 From PHH Mortgage Corp. for Unlawfully Foreclosing on Servicemembers’ Homes
The Justice Department today announced that PHH Mortgage Corporation (PHH) has agreed to pay $750,000 to six servicemembers to resolve allegations that it violated
Third Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging in Florida Online Foreclosure Auctions
Real estate investor Avi Stern pleaded guilty today in West Palm Beach, in connection with an ongoing investigation into bid rigging at online public foreclosure auctions in Florida, the Department of Justice announced. Stern is the third real estate investor to plead guilty in this investigation.
Federal Court Orders Tax Scheme Promoters to Disgorge $50 Million in Gains From Fraudulent...
A federal court in Salt Lake City, Utah, ordered R. Gregory Shepard and Neldon Johnson and Utah companies RaPower-3 LLC, and International Automated Systems, Inc., to disgorge over $50 million in gross receipts from facilitating and promoting an abusive tax scheme involving false tax deductions and solar energy credits
New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Related to Multimillion-Dollar Embezzlement From Deceased...
A New York licensed attorney and former partner at a New York law firm pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion arising from a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars
Justice Department Obtains $410,000 Settlement of Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Tinley Park, Illinois, for...
The Justice Department today announced that it settled a lawsuit against the Village of Tinley Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, alleging that it violated the Fair Housing Act when it refused to approve a low-income housing development in response to race-based community opposition.
Owner of Now-Defunct Real Estate Escrow Company Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for...
The owner of a former real estate escrow firm was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 24 months in prison for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. LORI LYNN ANDREW, 49, of Cashmere, Washington, the owner of Hartman Escrow, Inc., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. ANDREW stole more than $2.1 million through a variety of techniques
Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to Bid Rigging at Online Auctions
Real estate investor Christopher Graeve pleaded guilty today in West Palm Beach, in connection with an ongoing investigation into bid rigging at online public foreclosure auctions in Florida, the Department of Justice announced. Graeve is the second real estate investor to plead guilty
Wells Fargo Agrees to Pay $2.09 Billion Penalty for Allegedly Misrepresenting Quality of Loans...
The Justice Department announced today that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and several of its affiliates (Wells Fargo) will pay a civil penalty of $2.09 billion under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) based on the bank’s alleged origination and sale of residential mortgage loans that it knew contained misstated income information and did not meet the quality that Wells Fargo represented.
Delaware County Owner of Mortgage and Title Companies Sentenced to Five Years in Prison...
U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced that George Barnard, of Newtown Square, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for defrauding lenders of almost $13 million. Barnard, 47, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud counts in April. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,774,941.89 and to forfeit $4,262,279.38 in proceeds he obtained through his commission of the offense
Three California Residents Sentenced in $20 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Three owners and/or managers of Los Angeles, California-area foreclosure rescue companies, Dorothy Matsuba, Jamie Matsuba, and Thomas Matsuba, were sentenced to 240, 135, and 168 months in prison today for their roles in a foreclosure rescue scheme, respectively.
Texas Construction Company’s Owner and CEO Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding the State Department
The owner, chief executive officer, and former president of a Texas construction company, HERC Solutions, was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for defrauding the U.S. Department of State out of $1.37 million. Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia
Real Estate Attorney Sentenced for Role in Sweeping Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy
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.
President and Vice President of South Florida Construction Company Charged with Defrauding Low-Income Housing...
President and vice president of South Florida construction company charged with defrauding low-income housing development program. Benjamin G. Greenberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern
Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to Rigging Bids at Online Foreclosure Auctions
Real estate investor Stuart Hankin pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to rig bids, in violation of antitrust law, at online public foreclosure auctions in Florida, the Department of Justice announced. He is the first defendant to plead guilty in this conspiracy.
