Yearly Archives: 2011

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - August 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court, an Edina mortgage broker pleaded guilty for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Derrick Ivan Lance, age 40, of Edina, specifically pleaded guilty to count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lance, who was charged on July 22, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Joan N. Ericksen.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - July 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- This past Friday in federal court, an Edina mortgage broker was charged for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Derrick Ivan Lance, age 40, of Edina, was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Golden Valley, MN - July 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Are you a real estate agent who would like to learn how to sell $38 million dollars in real estate this year? How would you like to eat at a private VIP dinner with a successful luxury real estate agent that has been seen on a TV show? Maybe you would just like to meet, and have your picture taken with a celebrity? Or you are interested in partying at the same location as a celebrity? Josh Altman is one of the most successful real estate agents in the Beverly Hills and Hollywood Hills luxury housing market and you probably recognize him from the hit TV show Million Dollar Listing on Bravo. Josh's clientele consists mostly of entertainers, athletes and high net worth individuals from around the world. He sold $38 million in real estate last year and currently has $150 million in listings.

Golden Valley, MN - June 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- You’ve seen him “sell the dream” on Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Listing, now he has become the newest endorser of Renters Warehouse, a company who won’t “sell you the dream” but will help you “lease and manage it.”Renters Warehouse is a full service residential property management company, and Josh Altman has partnered with Renters Warehouse to increase brand awareness for the up and coming property management company. With Josh’s popularity from starring on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing TV show and his expertise in real estate, it was an easy decision for Renters Warehouse to team up with him. Josh states “I am very excited to endorse Renters Warehouse. When it comes to real estate I only work with the best and Renters Warehouse is the best at what they do.

EUGENE, OR - June 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. has integrated the dynamic IDX Broker software onto the website of Minnesota real estate agent Garth Johnson. Northstar MLS listings are seamlessly displayed on the search page Johnson hosts, creating a database with thousands of detailed property listings for clients of Johnson to search through. The IDX solution he employs even gives Johnson the ability to quickly and easily supply potential Edina, Minnesota buyers with a thorough and innovative IDX-backed real estate search.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - June 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Yesterday in federal court in Minneapolis, a Maple Grove real estate appraiser and a real estate agent from St. Cloud were indicted in connection with a $1.8 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 28 properties. Ryan Daryl Krutzig, age 31, of Maple Grove, and Jesse Scott Hoffman, age 32, of St. Cloud, were charged with five counts of wire fraud in connection to the scam. In addition, Krutzig was charged with four counts of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a jury convicted a 44-year-old Burnsville man of conspiring with others to bilk mortgage lenders out of more than $43 million. Following a six-day trial, the jury found Troy David Chaika guilty on seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Chaika was indicted on April 12, 2010

LANSING, MI - May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his support for proposed legislative reforms intended to strengthen the hand of prosecutors and law enforcement to combat mortgage fraud. Schuette joins State Senator James Marleau (R-Lake Orion), Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Oakland County Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, who came together this morning to support legislative reforms in light of recent allegations of fraudulent mortgage documents filed in Michigan

May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 50-year-old Fridley man was sentenced for defrauding eight mortgage lenders of $1.9 million. United States District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced Taleb Mohamed Wazwaz to 24 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud through the use of interstate wires. Wazwaz was charged via an information on April 19, 2010, and pleaded guilty on May 4, 2010

April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a former loan officer for Wells Fargo Bank pleaded guilty to participating in a $4.3 million mortgage fraud scheme. Larry Gene Hillard, age 56, of Maple Grove, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hillard, who was charged on March 10, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery.

April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, three people were charged with orchestrating a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders out of approximately $4.2 million relative to a Minnetonka development. Sheri Lynn Delich, age 45, of Apple Valley; My Dinh Lam, age 30; of Minneapolis; and Ashley Elizabeth Prasil, age 26, of Eden Prairie, were charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud. In addition, Delich was charged with one count of money laundering.

EUGENE, OR - April 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- IDX, Inc. is pleased to announce the latest real estate professional to adopt the revolutionary IDX Broker software: Craig Mische of Alexandria, Minnesota. By choosing an IDX solution for his website, Mische is only reinforcing his dedication to professionalism and serving his customers and their every real estate need. As a member of the Greater Alexandria Area MLS (GAARMLS) Mische is able to utilize his IDX solution to extract raw listing data from the GAARMLS database and seamlessly integrate it onto his search. Never again will Minnesota home seekers experience anything other than the best online property search around, thanks to IDX and Mische.

April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 39-year-old contractor from Ham Lake pleaded guilty to participating in a mortgage fraud scheme. Andrew Paul Stoner pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Stoner, who was charged on March 10, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery.

April 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, a 49-year-old Champlin woman pleaded guilty to her role in a mortgage fraud scheme involving at least 200 properties—principally in north Minneapolis—and mortgage proceeds of approximately $35 million. Gayle Deann Claus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Claus, who was indicted on June 15, 2010, along with two co-defendants, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge David S. Doty.

Washington, DC - April 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Rep. Walz introduced legislation to protect servicemembers from abusive, illegal mortgage practices