Ex-Bucks County Prosecutor Cops Plea To Swiping Mortgage Payments

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

• A former Bucks County prosecutor who went to jail 10 years ago for embezzling real-estate settlement funds, admitted in court today that he used his job as a mortgage broker to steal from clients again. Joseph James Scafidi, 53, of Warminster, pleaded guilty in Delaware County Court to felony counts of theft and forgery for stealing mortgage payments, writing bad checks, and fabricating a phony order from a county judge. Scafidi, who worked as a public defender and a deputy district attorney in Bucks County before he was disbarred in 1996, faces up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine for each of six charges.

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• Scafidi worked as an attorney for 16 years. In 1996, he was accused of embezzling $264,000 in real estate settlement fees from a Fort Washington title company and was disbarred.

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• [In one case,] Scafidi persuaded [a] couple to refinance two homes [...] then pocketed subsequent mortgage payments totaling $15,000. When default notices went out, Scafidi forged a court order that included assurances that no action on the houses was imminent. He faced similar charges in Montgomery and Bucks Counties, which were consolidated with the Delaware County charges.

For the story, see Ex-prosecutor admits to theft and forgery.

For story update, see Jail time for mortgage scammer with long record (7-7-08).

Go here for other posts on Joseph James Scafidi.

Mortgage Broker Faces Forgery, Theft Charges In Alleged Scam Resulting In Foreclosure Of Victims' Homes

In Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

• A Delaware County couple had to put their wedding on hold after losing two properties at the hands of a disbarred lawyer turned mortgage broker, authorities said. Joseph James Scafidi, 53, of Warminster, a former Bucks County prosecutor and convicted felon, turned himself in [last week] to face theft and forgery charges. He is accused of fabricating documents, including a phony court order from Delaware County's president judge, to hide his theft of mortgage payments.

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• After the couple lost both houses [to foreclosure], they confronted Scafidi, who offered them $150,000 if they did not report him to police, the complaint said.

Reportedly, Scafidi's prior brush with the law occurred in 1996 when he consented to disbarment after he was accused of embezzling $264,000 in real estate settlement fees from a Fort Washington title company. He served a 10- to 23-month prison sentence in 1998.

For more, see Broker accused of stealing mortgage payments.

Go here for other posts on Joseph James Scafidi.