Seven Cop Pleas In South Florida "Cash Back" Straw Buyer Mortgage Fraud Scheme

On Monday, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida announced the guilty pleas of seven assorted scam artists who participated in a scheme through which they located properties for sale in the Southwest Ranches area of Broward County, Florida, fraudulently purchased the properties using straw buyers, and then received cash back at the closings. This scheme yielded 12 fraudulent loans, totaling approximately $8,300,000, according to the U.S Attorney's office.

Those copping pleas (and the dates of their pleas) were:

• Maykel Clavero-Gonzalez, 30, of Miami, (January 7, 2008); Luc Bruna, 53, Fort Lauderdale, (January 10, 2008); Ruben Jimenez, 40, of Miami, (January 11,2008); Iliana Lima, 36, of Port St. Lucie, (January 11, 2008); Antonio Ramos, 26, of Miami, (February 5, 2008); and Michele Volcy, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, (February 8, 2008), and Joaquin M. Perea, 63, of Miami, (February 11, 2008).

For more, see the U.S. Attorney news release: Additional Defendants Plead Guilty In "Operation Fastbuck" Mortgage Fraud Scheme.

Go here for the original U.S. Attorney Press Release announcing the original indictment; and go here for the original Indictment.