USDOJ

WASHINGTON, DC - January 16, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A federal grand jury in Nevada today returned an indictment against 11 individuals for their alleged roles in a scheme to fraudulently take control of homeowners’ associations in the Las Vegas area. The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge William C. Woerner of the Las Vegas Field Office, Sheriff Douglas C. Gillespie of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Richard Weber, Chief of IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)

WASHINGTON, DC - November 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Las Vegas mortgage agent was found guilty today for participation in a mortgage fraud scheme that netted $1.2 million in fraudulent mortgage loans, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Favreau of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A Northern California real estate investor has agreed to plead guilty for his role in conspiracies to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions in Northern California, the Department of Justice announced.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- William J. Ferry, a former stock broker and investment advisor, and Dennis J. Clinton, a former real estate investment manager, were found guilty by a federal jury in Santa Ana, Calif., today for their roles in a conspiracy to defraud a wealthy investor of $1 billion in a high-yield investment fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The investor was, in reality, part of an undercover FBI team that posed as wealthy investors and investment managers in an effort to stop fraudsters before they actually harmed victims.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Justice Department today announced an agreement with a California municipality and a homeowners’ association to resolve allegations of discrimination on the basis of familial status in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The settlement, in the form of a consent order, must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

SACRAMENTO, CA - December 20, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Melissa Villegas, 31, of Sacramento, the last defendant in a mortgage fraud scheme, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Rick Villegas, 33, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on December 15, 2010; Kathleen DeLapp, 47, of Auburn, pleaded guilty to misprision of felony on December 9, 2010; and Robert Martinson, 48, of Newcastle, pleaded guilty to mail fraud on January 8, 2010