Michigan Man Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy Using Straw Home Buyers

-

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 2, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — A Southfield, Michigan, resident was sentenced today to serve 21 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for his participation in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the Justice Department announced.

Peter Allen was charged in a superseding indictment on July 16, 2013, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on April 29. Allen was also ordered to pay $96,400 and $97,900 in restitution, respectively, to National City Bank and Fannie Mae, the financial institutions that he helped defraud.

Court documents state that from approximately January 2006 to December 2008, Allen and his co-defendants conspired to defraud lending institutions by obtaining mortgage loans using fraudulent information. The charging documents allege that Allen and others devised a scheme wherein they purchased property for approximately $5,000 to $40,000 per home, and then recruited straw buyers to submit fraudulent loan applications for home mortgages in exchange for a fee. According court documents, Allen assisted in executing the relevant scheme by meeting with straw buyers and encouraging them to participate in the scheme. The loss resulting from Allen’s criminal activities is approximately $231,000.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Senior Litigation Counsel Corey Smith and Trial Attorney Mark McDonald of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division website .

SHARE
Avatar

The Michigan Insurance Coalition (MIC) is an association of insurance companies based in Michigan and around the country that employ thousands of Michigan workers.

Contact:

Tom Shields
Phone: 517.372-4400 ext 230 (office)
Cell: 515/449-9810

Previous articleMSHDA Board Appoints Workman Acting-Executive Director
Next articleFinancing for Historic Rehabilitation Projects Available Through New Grant Program