Six Houston-area residents have been charged in a multi-layered fraud scheme involving mortgage fraud and identity theft.
The US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Texas issued a press release, outlining some of the details. However, the original indictment filed last month remains sealed. Therefore, at this time, I don’t know how the scheme started and how long it continued.
The scheme involves
- Elvina Buckley, a Woodlands realtor
- Heather Ann Campos, a mortgage broker, based in Spring
- Melinda Munoz, a notary, based in Spring
- Leslie Edrington and her daughter, ShyAnne, also based in Spring
- David Lewis Best Jr, a financial services executive
Ms. Campos and Mr. Best are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrest.
The indictment alleges that the six recruited clients for credit repair and “cleaned” their clients’ credit histories by filing false identify theft reports with the Federal Trade Commission.
After falsely inflating client credit worthiness, the six would fraudulently obtain credit cards, disaster loans and mortgages for themselves and their clients. They maintained control of the properties purchased in their clients’ names for the purpose of, allegedly, building a real estate portfolio worth millions of dollars and enriching themselves with rental income.
If convicted, all face up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/area-residents-charged-multi-layered-fraud-scheme