19 Named In 106 Count Indictment Alleging Straw Buyer Scam Involving 16 Akron-Area Homes

In Summit County, Ohio, the Akron Beacon Journal reports:

• Defendants named in a 106-count indictment concerning mortgage fraud crimes stole more than $1 million from lending institutions and destabilized area neighborhoods, local and state authorities said today. The indictment concerns allegations that fraudulent information was used on loan documents to get mortgages on 16 Akron-area houses, authorities said. Almost all of the purchasers were ''straw buyers'' who were ''in on the crimes'' and had no intention of paying off the loans, said Keith Thornton, chief of investigations for the Summit County Sheriff's Office, shortly before a news conference this afternoon.(1)

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• Nineteen defendants were named in the indictment(2) — handed down Thursday — that covers more than 200 felony charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, forgery, falsification, theft and receiving stolen property.

For more, see Authorities say mortgage scheme netted more than $1 million.

(1) Thornton said the indictment is separate from the ongoing Evergreen mortgage fraud case, now in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Evergreen Corp. President DavidB. Willan was charged Dec. 19, along with others, in a 147-count indictment alleging widespread Akron-area securities and mortgage fraud.

(2) According to the story, those named in the indictment include Garrick Feaster, Sarina Elmore, Naketia Johnson, Donte Gibson, Monte Pitts, Crystal Tyler, Anthony Ramsey, Karmen Beckett, Lizrae Benford, Michael Dowdell, Edwin Cain, Richard Turner and Alfred Jones, all of the Akron area. Also named were Adam J. DeStefanis and Brian DeStefanis of Medina County; Steve Sikorski of Cuyahoga County; Angie Rodgers and Shanika Jordan of the Youngstown area; and Richard Putnam of Stark County.