In light of the current mortgage crisis, government authorities have been putting a great deal of focus on real estate fraud enforcement. Thus, the consequences of being accused and convicted of this crime can be quite great. Recently, authorities have brought charges against a Florida man in connection to an alleged instance of mortgage fraud.
The case involves a lawyer from Fort Myers, Florida. The lawyer has been accused of committing fraud in connection to a mortgage he obtained during a real estate purchase in 2008. Reportedly, the mortgage was for several hundred thousand dollars. The man allegedly submitted falsified documents when applying for this mortgage. Also, the man supposedly failed to file income tax returns that same year.
The man has been charged with wire fraud and failure to file a tax return in connection to these allegations. He has pled not guilty to both charges. If he is convicted of these charges, he could face over 30 years in prison.
This case demonstrates a couple of important points. First, it shows that federal authorities continue to be aggressive in their investigation and prosecution of mortgage fraud crimes. Also, given the large sentence the above-mentioned lawyer could face if found guilty, this case shows the major consequences that can result from being convicted of mortgage fraud.
Thus, it can be vital for a suspect to have a thought-out and well-constructed defense in these sorts of white collar crime cases. This is one of the reasons why being represented by a skilled criminal defense attorney can be very important.
Source: The News-Press, “Fort Myers attorney charged in $4.2 million mortgage fraud,” Pat Gillespie, 17 Feb 2011
