South Jersey Crook Gets Four Years For Fleecing $180K+ Out Of Homeowners Seeking Loan Modifications, Reverse Mortgages, Other Financial Assistance; Suspect's Community-Respected Father Steps Up To Pay $145K In Partial Restitution For Son's Misdeeds

In Mount Holly, New Jersey, the Burlington County Times reports:

• A Cherry Hill man was sentenced [] to four years in state prison for duping 10 people and two banks out of about $183,000 in connection with a mortgage and loan scheme.
  
  Mark Begley, 51, of Park Boulevard, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Terrence R. Cook per a plea agreement reached in October, when he pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree theft by deception and third-degree failure to pay taxes.
  
  Begley, a purported loan specialist, was arrested in July and accused of taking $146,000 from Burlington County residents who were seeking mortgage and loan assistance and using the money for his personal use. He was charged with multiple counts of theft by deception, misapplication of entrusted property, filing a fraudulent or false income tax return, failure to file a tax return, and failure to pay/remit taxes.
  
  Authorities said Begley claimed to be a mortgage loan specialist whose services included assistance with reverse mortgage procurement, mortgage refinancing and assorted loan modifications. He prepared documents for clients to sign to convince them he was working with lenders and mortgage companies on their behalf, but instead kept the money, authorities said.
  
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  “This did strike me as the worst type of offense,” Cook said, adding that Begley used his father’s standing in the community as a well-respected attorney to gain the victims' trust. “It doesn’t appear to this court that hard work is something you are used to. … He didn’t want to earn his money; he simply wanted to take it.”
  
  Cook called Begley “greedy” and “selfish,” adding, “He’s a thief, he’s a hustler, he’s a crook, he’s a con man.”
  
  [A] Beverly couple have been reimbursed for about $111,000 by Begley’s father, as have another couple from Cinnaminson for $24,400, according to [Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew] McDonnell. A bank has been reimbursed about $7,215 and another resident $2,400.
  
  Cook ordered that $30,000 in restitution be paid to five other residents, including three from the county. Another $7,251 must be paid to a bank, and Begley must pay about $6,700 to the state in back taxes.
  
  Begley also failed to file a personal income tax return in 2012, filed a false or fraudulent return in 2011, and failed to pay personal income taxes in 2011 and 2012, authorities have said.
  
  McDonnell said other allegations were levied against Begley, including some by family members, but no criminal charges are currently being pursued.
  
  Cook also sentenced Begley to four years for the charge of failure to pay taxes, to be served concurrently as the theft by deception offense.

Source: Cherry Hill man sentenced to four years for mortgage and loan scheme.