Springfield Man Charged as Conspirator in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 31, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Michael J. Smith, 31, of Springfield, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with participating in a mortgage fraud conspiracy that caused losses of over $600,000, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Specifically, Smith is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and forfeiture. According to the indictment, Smith, who was a mortgage broker at the time, conspired with John C. Lucidi, Jr. and Eric Maratea, both of whom are charged elsewhere, as well as numerous other individuals, in a scheme to buy properties at inflated prices so that buyers could receive kickbacks of tens of thousands of dollars. Smith was one of the alleged buyers.