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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

38 Charged With Mortgage Fraud Across USA

MANHATTAN (CN) - Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged 38 people with defrauding hundreds of homeowners and lenders across the nation. The eight indictments claim the defendants defrauded lenders of $29 million and victimized more than 240 homebuyers. Defendants include three lawyers, seven mortgage brokers, three real estate agents, and two loan officers.

Federal prosecutors and the FBI called the nationwide roundup "Operation Stolen Dreams." Thirty-two people were arrested on Thursday or were expected to surrender, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Six remained at large.

The defendants are accused of falsifying documents, getting loans to buy property that does not exist, using straw buyers, and offering bogus loan modification programs to distressed homeowners.

The link to the indictment on the CNS home page is one of the eight that were unsealed Thursday.

Fifty-five defendants have been charged with arranging more than $45 million in fraudulent loans since Operation Stolen Dreams began in March, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.

Here are the defendants in the several cases: Dustin Dente, Brandon Lisi, Charles Adessi, and Rich Williams: charged in a 13-count indictment.

Paulette Gabbidon aka Paulette Hibbert aka Paulette Webb aka Alliyah Adstroy aka Alliyah Hibbert, Jason Lewis, and Joyce Lewis: charged in a 5-count indictment.

Verbelle Williams, Chukwuma Osakwe, and Onochie Onobogu: charged in a 3-count indictment.

Jaime Cassuto aka Jay Cassuto, David Cassuto, and Isaak Khafizov.

Orit Tuil, Annette Shereshevsky Fonte, Darlene Ritter, Nir Zeer, and Joan Powell.

Deanyon Ross.

Yevgeny Komar aka Jake Komar, and Joseph Patton.

Wilfredo Blas, Nidia Campos, Oscar Osorio, John Isola, Jose Rosario, Patricia Gonzalez, Curtis McPherson, Umer Raja, Mohammed Islam, Maria Zapata, Edwin Barrera, Marlown Caso aka Marlo Castro aka Marlo Caso, Moises Vargas, Romana Galezo, Galo Huaycochea, Jhojans Elegante aka Joseph Elegante, and Anthony Reid: charged in a 3-count indictment, including major fraud and witness tampering.

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