Mortgage Fraud / Real Estate Fraud

Mortgage fraud and real estate fraud are two types of fraud that the authorities have been prosecuting aggressively in recent years. If you are facing charges, you could face serious fines and incarceration. You need to fight these charges aggressively with an attorney you know can protect your rights.

Attorney Frank Rubino has the experience, knowledge and grit to protect your rights. Fight fraud charges. Call 866-718-3994 to schedule a consultation with an experienced defense lawyer.

From his home office in Miami, Florida, Frank Rubino represents clients throughout the country in a range of fraud related charges.

Experienced Defense, Aggressive Representation

Attorney Frank Rubino has a wealth of knowledge and experience handling federal white collar crime cases such as those involving mortgage fraud or real estate fraud. In his 30 years of practice, he has earned a reputation for his success in large-scale criminal cases at the state, federal and international levels. He provides aggressive criminal defense representation to investors, brokers, alleged straw buyers and other individuals facing allegations of mortgage or real estate fraud.

Understanding Fraud Charges

Mortgage fraud/real estate fraud involves schemes to defraud a federally insured lending institution (a bank). There are various mortgage fraud schemes, ranging from silent second schemes and foreclosure schemes to schemes involving inflated appraisals and air loans. Most mortgage fraud or real estate fraud cases involve one of the following:

  • Nominee/straw buyer loans to purchase property: A straw buyer is used to purchase property for an investor who may not otherwise have qualified for the loan due to multiple other property loans. While the investor had the intention to resell the property within months for profit, the sudden drop in the market causes the investor to default and get caught in the property-flipping scheme. While the property-flipping scheme had legitimate and legal intentions, the investor faces fraud charges for the deception used to purchase the real estate.
  • Inflated appraisals: Straw buyers are used to purchase property on behalf of an investor. The property is sold and repurchased several times, each time at a higher price through the use of corrupt appraisers, title companies and other individuals. Proceeds are often pocketed by the investor, appraiser, broker or other interested party.

Mortgage fraud and real estate fraud charges are very serious. Defendants may be prosecuted not only on the actual loss caused by the mortgage fraud scheme, but also on the intended loss. While prosecutors use every tactic available to inflate the intended loss in federal mortgage fraud cases, Mr. Rubino has the experience to effectively challenge the valuations and minimize the intended loss, thus reducing the potential consequences his clients face.

An Office Equipped For Success Against Mortgage Fraud Allegations

The law offices of Frank Rubino are equipped to handle multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud defenses, including mortgage fraud accusations made in conjunction with other allegations such as mail and wire fraud, tax fraud and money laundering. This includes the knowledge, skill and resources to strategically build strong defenses. When the federal officials accuse you of fraudulent solicitation of homeowners facing foreclosure sales, of straw buyer schemes, of fraudulently obtaining home loans or making misrepresentations on loan applications, you can be assured that you are working with absolute top-quality legal representation.

Increased Prosecution Of Real Estate Fraud

The federal government, at the request of lenders, has significantly increased its investigation and prosecution of real estate fraud involving silent second schemes, foreclosure prevention schemes and straw buyers purchasing property for an investor who may not otherwise have qualified for a loan.

The sudden drop in the real estate market has caused significant problems for property investors who may have had legitimate and legal intentions of purchasing properties for later resale, but who were then stuck with properties that could not be sold. These investors, and the straw buyers who helped them purchase multiple properties, are now facing real estate fraud charges for deception used to purchase the property.

Less common in the current real estate climate is real estate fraud involving inflated appraisals in which a property is purchased and repurchased several times, each time at a higher price, with the proceeds being pocketed by an investor, appraiser, broker or other interested party.

It’s Not Too Early To Call

Frequently people learn of a federal criminal investigation before they have been charged. Regardless of where you are in the legal process, it is best to have an experienced federal tax fraud defense attorney by your side. The intervention of an attorney can result in charges being dropped or less significant charges being filed.

It doesn’t matter how you found out about the problems — whether your title company notified you, your bank contacted you or federal agents knocked on your door. If you suspect you are being investigated, get defense attorney Frank Rubino on your case early. Call 866-718-3994 or email the firm today.

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