Feds charge 41 in Fla. mortgage fraud schemes involving $40 million in 6 different cases

September 30th, 2009 Worker misconduct cases rise at science foundationARLINGTON, Va. — A watchdog tasked with stopping fraud involving taxpayer-funded science grants says it has been forced to spend time addressing government employee misconduct, much of it involving pornography.

September 21st, 2009 2 men charged in NY with $80 million Ponzi schemeNEW YORK — Two men are charged in New York with an $80 million Ponzi scheme involving an automated teller machine business, federal authorities said Monday. Vance Moore II, 55, of Raleigh, N.C., was arrested Friday in Garner, N.C., and was scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

August 24th, 2009 Feds, 10 states join to fight mortgage fraudOLYMPIA, Wash. — Ten state attorneys general and four federal agencies are forming a task force to combat mortgage fraud.

August 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Businessman Ashwani Sud, who was on the run for the last two years, has been arrested for allegedly duping investors of Rs.22 crore (Rs.220 million) by offering various schemes for investing in teak plantations, police said Wednesday. Sud, chairman cum managing director of Timber World Resorts and Plantation India, was arrested Monday from south Delhi's Safdarjung Enclave area, a police official said.

August 13th, 2009 Clarification: Mortgage fraud storyLOS ANGELES — In the first paragraph of an Aug. 10 story about a mortgage fraud trial, The Associated Press reported that real estate agent Joseph Babajian was acquitted in the scheme, while two others were found guilty.

August 11th, 2009 High-profile Calif. real estate agent acquittedLOS ANGELES — A high-profile Beverly Hills real estate agent has been acquitted of participating in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that caused federally insured banks to lose more than $40 million.

July 31st, 2009 Federal authorities create mortgage fraud teamNEW HAVEN, Conn. — Federal authorities are creating a mortgage fraud task force in Connecticut to investigate schemes that contributed to the economic crisis and emerging crime trends associated with the growing tide of foreclosures.

July 15th, 2009 Feds: Fugitive NY broker caughtNEW YORK — Federal authorities say they have captured a former Wall Street broker who became a fugitive after being charged in a securities fraud case. Julian Tzolov (Zoh-LOHV') had been the subject of an international manhunt since he disappeared shortly before a trial scheduled in Brooklyn in June.

July 8th, 2009 Falling house prices drive up mortgage fraudWASHINGTON — Falling housing prices are driving up reports of mortgage fraud, with the FBI saying Tuesday that reported losses are up 83 percent last year and climbing even higher in 2009. In its 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said the downturn in the economy, a spike in foreclosures and defaults and diminishing credit availability "fueled a rampant mortgage fraud climate fraught with opportunistic participants desperate to maintain or increase their current standard of living." "Industry employees sought to maintain the high standard of living they enjoyed during the boom years of the real estate market and overextended mortgage holders were often desperate to reduce or eliminate their bloated mortgage payments," the report said.

June 24th, 2009 53 indicted in alleged $50M Medicare fraud schemeWASHINGTON — Authorities have indicted 53 people for schemes to cheat Medicare out of $50 million. Suspects were arrested in Detroit, Miami, and Denver as part of a wide-ranging effort by the government to crack down on those allegedly defrauding the government-funded health care program for the elderly and disabled.

June 24th, 2009 Feds indict 53 for Medicare fraudWASHINGTON — Federal authorities indicted 53 people on Wednesday for schemes to cheat Medicare out of $50 million. Suspects were arrested in Detroit, Miami, and Denver as part of a wide-ranging effort by the government to crack down on those allegedly defrauding the government-funded health care program for the elderly and disabled.

June 12th, 2009 NJ mortgage company president guilty in $139M scamNEWARK, N.J. — The former president of a New Jersey mortgage company has pleaded guilty in a $139 million fraud scheme that bankrupted his firm.

June 10th, 2009 Feds accuse 2 Calif. men of conducting $85M schemeSAN FRANCISCO — Federal regulators have accused two Northern California men of conducting an $85 million Ponzi scheme that targeted Korean-Americans, pledging to deliver spectacular returns from foreign currency trading.

June 5th, 2009 Summary Box: Mozilo accused of civil fraudFORMER COUNTRYWIDE CEO CHARGED: The government has accused Angelo Mozilo and two other former executives of the fallen mortgage lender of civil fraud and insider trading. The three dispute the civil charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

April 27th, 2009 5 charged in $70M mortgage Ponzi schemeWASHINGTON — Five people were charged with fraud Monday in what prosecutors say was a mortgage scheme that defrauded over 1,000 people of more than $70 million. Maryland prosecutors say it was all a complicated Ponzi scheme run by a company called Metro Dream Homes.