Minister Gets Four Years For Fraudulently Obtaining Mortgage Loan

In Fairview Heights, Illinois, the Belleville News Democrat reports:

• A metro-east minister was sentenced [last week] to four years in prison for federal mortgage loan fraud after he made fraudulent transactions to get a loan on a home in an exclusive Maryville neighborhood. Keith L. Pittman, 54, also was sentenced to five years supervised release and ordered to pay $142,000 in restitution to HomeEq Mortgage Servicing Corporation, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

• His fraudulent transactions "enabled him to obtain a subprime mortgage to purchase property without making an actual down payment, while simultaneously exposing the lending institution to an undisclosed, increased risk of default," the news release stated. Pittman did not make any mortgage payments and the property was foreclosed upon. [...] He was a pastor for more than 20 years at St. Louis area and metro-east churches.

Source: Metro-east minister gets 4 years for mortgage loan fraud; must pay $142,000 in restitution.

For the U.S. Attorney press release (Southern District, Illinois), see Former Maryville Man Sentenced On Mortgage Loan Fraud Scheme.