South Florida Man Pleads Guilty In Straw Buyer Scam; Allegedly Lied On Loan Applications For $10M+ In Mortgages Involving At Least 20 Homes

In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports:

• A Coral Springs man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale federal court to charges he lied on applications for more than $10 million in mortgage loans. Anthony Dehaney, 57, admitted he used straw buyers and bogus records to purchase at least 20 Broward properties between January 2003 and August 2006 — including a $1.4 million Coral Springs home. Prosecutor Jeffrey Kay said Dehaney worked with a Fort Lauderdale title agent to make it appear that other individuals were taking out the loans. Dehaney, an ex-teacher, ultimately filed forged bankruptcy petitions on behalf of some straw buyers to stall foreclosure proceedings, Kay said.

Source: Guilty plea in fraud case.

See also, U.S. Attorney (Miami, Florida) press release: Leader Of $10 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty:

• Co-defendants Marcia Mestre and Angela Manalaysay pled guilty on September 3, 2008 and are scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2008. Defendant Dehaney is scheduled to be sentenced on December 30, 2008. The remaining defendants Howard Gaines, Beverly Ireland and Donna Patricia Grant are scheduled to go trial on November 17, 2008 at the Fort Lauderdale Federal Courthouse.