Three Indicted In Massachusetts Alleged I.D. Theft / Attempted Home Theft

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, along with a slew of other Federal and State law enforcement officials have announced the indictment of Andre Lamerique, 25, of Sharon, Massachusetts, Judy Bonas, 51, of New York City, and Carmella Lassegue, 25, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, for conspiracy and identity fraud for fraudulently obtaining mortgage financing in connection with the fictitious sale of a Dorchester residence that they did not own.

They are alleged to have attempted to sell a home from out from underneath the owner without the owner's knowledge, trying to pocket more than $420,000 from a mortgage company in the process. The "closing agent" who handled the phony sale was actually an undercover Massachusetts state trooper who was part of a sting operation conducted by law enforcement. For more, see U.S. Attorney Press Release - Three people Indicted On Fraud Charges In Connection With Bogus "Sale"Of Dorchester Property.

Editorial Note:

If I'm not mistaken, the prosecution of these three suspects in connection with the alleged incident has been going on since January. I'm trying to figure out exactly what the July 11, 2007 announcement and corresponding press release was all about. Go here for the other posts on this story.

I.D. Thieves 'Stung' In Attempted Massachusetts Home Theft Scam

In another story, this time reported by Boston, Massachusetts television station WCVB-TV Channel 5 on their website, TheBostonChannel.com, involving the use of identity theft to engage in a real estate scam to steal the home of a potential victim, the U.S. Attorney's office said Andre J. Lamerique of Sharon, Massachusetts, Carmella F. Lessegue of Boston, and Judy Bonas of New York City, were charged with using stolen I.D.s to fraudulently obtain a mortgage loan on a bogus purchase of a home in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege that Lamerique orchestrated the phony sale to obtain the proceeds of a $440,000 mortgage to finance the purchase.

According to the report, "Law enforcement agencies got a tip about the scheme and used an undercover Massachusetts State Trooper to act as the attorney who was supposed to close the deal."

All three were previously arrested and charged in Massachusetts state court back in January on state charges involving the same incident. For more, see Feds Prosecuting ID Theft Home Purchase Case (Trio Charged With Using Stolen IDs In Fake Home Sale). sting
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Boston Cops, Feds Sting Alleged Home Thieves

Three alleged identity theft scammers were arrested by Boston police and federal investigators as they were about to "sell" the home out from under a 63 year old Dorchester woman. The arrests took place as a "mock closing" for the "sale" of the home, orchestrated by law enforcement, was about to take place. Investigators attended the "closing" posing as real estate lawyers.

The suspects have been alleged to have stolen the woman's identity to buy three other properties prior to the attempted "sale" of the victim's own home.

The alleged mortgage fraud involved the use of phony drivers' licenses, falsified W-2 forms and other phony financial paperwork using the victim's identity.

The suspects are believed to be part of a "sophisticated interstate identity theft ring", according to authorities. A series of additional arrests in connection with this identity theft ring is expected next week.

To read more, see these reports by the Boston Herald, at BostonHerald.com:

Bid to swindle ex-nun thwarted: Three nabbed in home scam (1-26-07)
More busts expected in identity theft, home-sale scam (1-27-07)
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