Friday, February 23, 2007

Feds Obtain 30 Count Indictment In "Straw Borrower" Scam

An Albany, New York federal grand jury has indicted Anthony Andersen of Florence, Massachusetts last Friday on 30 counts of mortgage fraud and money laundering, according to an online article on EmpireStateNews.net. Andersen recruited others who allowed him to use their names and identifying information to apply for and obtain loans from Union Planters Bank on property he either owned or controlled, according to the allegations.

The indictment alleges that:
  • shortly before the loan closings, Andersen would put the title to these properties in the name of the straw borrowers;
  • he also represented to the straw borrowers that he would maintain control of the properties;
  • he told the straw borrowers that he would be responsible for the loans;
  • he also agreed that he and/or entities controlled by him would re-acquire from the straw borrowers title to the properties shortly after the loan closings; and
  • unknown to the lender, he would pay the straw borrowers for allowing him to use their names and identifying information to obtain the loans.
  • Andersen misrepresented the properties' values and profitablity, the borrowers' identities and qualifications, and the intended distribution of the loan proceeds.

To read the article, see Mortgage fraud, money laundering indictment handed up.

Click here for the 30 Count Grand Jury Indictment against Anthony Andersen.

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Saturday, June 23, 2007

Albany, NY Feds Indict Wife Of Accused Mortgage Fraudster

A federal grand jury sitting in Albany, New York returned a superseding indictment on Friday charging Laura Andersen with conspiring with her husband, Anthony Andersen, in a mortgage fraud scheme, according to EmpireStateNews.net.

In February, an indictment was returned against Anthony Andersen that charged him with a number of crimes involving mortgage fraud. The superseding grand jury indictment returned on Friday charged Laura Andersen, 48, with several counts of, essentially, helping her husband carrying out the alleged fraud, as well as one count of making false statements to law enforcement. For more, see Couple charged with mortgage scheme.

Go here for other posts on this story.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Upstate NY Feds Get Straw Buyer Guilty Plea In Mortgage Fraud

According to EmpireStateNews.net, Federal authorities announced that William Lask, 63, of Schenectady, New York pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring with Anthony Andersen and others in a mortgage fraud scheme. Lask admitted in substance that he acted as a straw borrower in the charged scheme, allowing Andersen to use his name and personal information to obtain loans for two properties in Troy, NY, and that Andersen paid him $17,000 for the two loan transactions. For more, see Man pleads guilty to mortgage fraud.

Go here for prior posts on this alleged mortgage fraud scam.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Another Upstate NY Straw Buyer Cops Plea In "Andersen" Affair

EmpireStateNews.net reports that Mark Slagen, 53 of Schenectady, New York pleaded guilty in an Albany, NY Federal Court to conspiring in a mortgage fraud scheme with the currently-under-indictment Anthony Andersen and others. Slagen admitted in substance that he acted as a straw borrower in the charged scheme, allowing Andersen to use his name and personal information to obtain loans secured by real estate in the upstate New York cities of Troy and Rensselaer. For more, see Man pleads guilty in mortgage fraud scheme.

Go here for other posts on this alleged mortgage fraud scheme.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Albany, NY Feds Announce Guilty Pleas Of Two In "Straw Buyer" Mortgage Fraud Scam

In Albany, New York, EmpireStateNews.net reports:
  • Federal authorities in Albany Tuesday announced that Anthony Anderson and his wife, Laura Anderson, both of Florence, Massachusetts, pled guilty Tuesday ... in Albany to felony charges in connection with their roles in a 2001-02 mortgage fraud scheme. Anthony Andersen, 53, pled guilty to submitting false statements to a federally insured financial institution for the purpose of influencing its action on loan applications and to money laundering involving causing monetary transactions over $10,000 to be conducted in funds derived from such specified unlawful activity. [...] Laura Andersen, 49, also pled guilty today to one count of making false statements to law enforcement and in connection with her participation in her husband's scheme.

For more, see Massachusetts couple pleads guilty to mortgage fraud in New York.

Go here for other posts on this mortgage fraud scheme.