Archives

WASHINGTON, DC - January 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) joined 103 members of Congress today to urge President Obama to help Minnesotans heat their homes during winter. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families and seniors with their energy bills, which is crucial during cold Minnesota winters. The number of families eligible for the program vastly exceeds the funds available. This funding remains a lifeline during the economic downturn as energy costs continue to rise.

Saint Paul - November 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Property tax levies are proposed to increase an average of 1.2 percent statewide if proposed local tax levies are adopted by local governments later this year. Levy increases combined with the elimination of a state-paid homestead credit during the 2011 special legislative session will increase the amount of taxes paid by Minnesota taxpayers by an estimated 4.7 percent, or $379 million.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court, a Minnesota couple was indicted in connection with a $5 million mortgage fraud scheme. James Warren Hoffman, age 51, and his wife, Teresa Gay Hoffman, age 52, both of Stillwater, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud through the use of interstate wire and nine counts of mortgage fraud through interstate wire.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 45-year-old Burnsville man was sentenced for conspiring with others to bilk mortgage lenders out of more than $43 million. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Troy David Chaika to 102 months in prison 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, and was convicted by a jury on May 24, 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - October 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To date in 2011, more than a dozen people have been charged federally with mortgage fraud and related crimes in the District of Minnesota. These complex cases are the result of lengthy investigations by federal agents, in particular, Special Agent Andy Gibart of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division (“IRS-CID”), Special Agent Jennifer Khan of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Inspector Christine Kroells of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”).

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - September 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 28-year-old Webster man was sentenced for bilking more than $7 million from at least 15 real estate mortgage lending companies between 2005 and 2008. U.S. District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Dustin LaFavre to 48 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. LaFavre was charged on November 5, 2009, and pled guilty on December 7, 2009.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - September 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Earlier today in federal court, a 52-year-old man was charged for his role in a $20 million mortgage fraud scheme that involved 57 properties. Douglas Rex Butler was charged via an information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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.

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.