EXAMPLES OF MORTGAGE FRAUD
Arrested & charged with a crime? Call us for FREE consultation.
Criminal Defense Lawyer in Sacramento
Mortgage fraud is a serious offense that can lead to significant legal consequences. If you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with mortgage fraud in Sacramento County, California, it’s crucial to understand the nature of these charges and the importance of securing legal representation from an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Sacramento.
Mortgage fraud encompasses a range of illegal activities aimed at misleading a lender or borrower to gain financial advantages in a mortgage transaction. These activities can include false statements on loan applications, income fabrication, appraisal fraud, and more. The complexity of these cases requires a deep understanding of both state and federal laws, making it imperative for individuals facing such charges to seek out a criminal defense lawyer who has a comprehensive knowledge of the legal system and a proven track record in handling mortgage fraud cases.
The consequences of a mortgage fraud conviction can be severe, including hefty fines, restitution payments, and even prison time. Moreover, the stigma of a fraud charge can have long-lasting effects on your personal and professional life. Therefore, choosing the right defense attorney is not just about navigating the legal process; it’s about protecting your future.
THERE ARE INNUMERABLE MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEMES
Below are some that are common in California in relation to the foreclosure crisis.
Bait & Switch
In a bait and switch, an individual presents a homeowner with blank documents for signature, claiming that they will help the homeowner secure a lower mortgage payment. The individual and assures the homeowner he or she can fill in the other portions of the documents later. Meanwhile, the homeowner is signing his or her property away.
Phantom Help Scams
In phantom help schemes, an individual asks for a fee in order to help a homeowner prevent a pending foreclosure. By the time the owner realizes that this individual has not in fact helped, it is too late to stop the pending foreclosure.
Straw Buyers Schemes
A “straw” buyer is someone with good credit who buys a property for someone else. One of the ways this can become mortgage fraud is when straw buyers’ names and information are used to falsify the documents in support of loan applications. The proceeds are put into the account of the individual committing the fraud.
Forging Deeds
Individuals may assume the identity of a particular property’s owner and forge names on grant and trust deeds. That person then gets loan proceeds, stealing equity out of the property.
Illegal Property “Flipping”
Illegal property flipping happens when a fraudulent appraisal is obtained that inaccurately inflates the value of the property. A buyer unwittingly purchases the flipped property, and owes more on the property than its true value.
Penalties for Mortgage Fraud
In the four-year period of 2007-2011, the FBI increased the number of agents in the nation who investigate mortgage fraud cases from 120 special agents to 325 special agents. In June 2010, the Department of Justice announced a mortgage fraud takedown that they called “Operation Stolen Dreams.” This operation targeted mortgage fraud throughout the nation. It was the largest collective enforcement effort against mortgage fraud in history. Through 2011, FBI investigations resulted in 1,223 informations and indictments, and 1,082 convictions of individuals charged with mortgage fraud offenses. In response to its national status as an area with increased mortgage fraud, the California’s state government is also cracking down on these offenses.
If you are being investigated or charged with mortgage fraud either on the state or federal level, you should be aware that it is now handled as a serious offense. Sometimes it is prosecuted as a misdemeanor, but it is more often charged as a felony. The President signed into law the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act in 2009, which increases penalties and extends the statute of limitations for mortgage fraud. Penalties for federal mortgage fraud include up to 30 years in prison or a $1,000,000 fine, or both. The statute of limitations was increased to ten, rather than five years. Individuals may face more than one mortgage fraud charge, resulting in a very long prison term.
Contact Criminal Defense Lawyer in Sacramento
When you have been charged with a crime, choose a criminal attorney in Sacramento with the experience and dedication to make a difference. The Law Office of Wing & Parisi is dedicated to provide exceptional customer service and excellent legal representation for those charged with any type of crime.
Whether it’s your first charge or your second, you need a dedicated and skilled attorney by your side. Contact us online or call at (916) 441-4888 for a free and confidential case consultation, available in Spanish. We appear in state and federal courts in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout Placer and San Joaquin counties.
