Michigan Mortgage Fraud Ringleader Sentenced to 13 Years www.privateofficer.com

Detroit MI April 10 2013

U.S. Attorney’s Office April 10, 2013

•Eastern District of Michigan (313) 226-9100

A 45-year-old Fenton man was sentenced today to 13 years in prison in connection with a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud conspiracy, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.
Joining McQuade in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III, head of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook, Jr. also sentenced Ronnie Edward Duke to pay a $1 million fine and $94 million in restitution. Duke led the scheme for close to four years, ending in July 2007 when the FBI executed seven search warrants in metropolitan Detroit and Florida.
The scheme involved more than 450 fraudulent mortgage loans, more than 100 straw buyers, and approximately 180 different residential properties in metropolitan Detroit that were used as collateral for the loans. Most of these loans went into default and foreclosure. The loans ranged from roughly $350,000 to $600,000. Lenders were deceived by counterfeit purchase agreements, fake closing documents, and fictitious title companies that were actually controlled by Duke and his co-conspirators. The warranty deeds and mortgages associated with the majority of the loans went unrecorded, leaving the lenders completely unsecured. Such loans were commonly referred to as “ghost” loans by the defendants during the scheme.
“Mortgage fraud not only harms lenders, but it also affects all of us when foreclosures lead to vacant homes, which reduce property values and create havens for criminal activity,” McQuade said.
“Those who orchestrate and conduct mortgage fraud schemes that steal millions of dollars from innocent victims will face severe consequences for their crimes,” Foley said. The FBI remains committed to pursuing and prosecuting anyone who engages in these illegal acts.”
Fifteen of Duke’s co-conspirators were previously sentenced, including:
•Ryan Andrew Zundel, 38, of Brewton, Alabama—10 years
•Nicole Lynn Rothe (formerly Nicole Lynn Turcheck), 34, of Gibraltar—10 years
•William Camsell Wells, III, 42, of Howell—eight-and-a-half years
•Wilinevah Richardson, 35, of Davison—five years
•Donna Marie Walbrook, 50, of Westland—five years
•Anthony Edward Peters, 75, of Monroe—41 months
•Robert Brierley, 46 of Westland—33 months.
Duke spent his fraud proceeds to operate a car racing business called Hardcore Racing Inc. He purchased numerous sports cars, race cars, boats, motorcycles, and a helicopter. Duke’s co-defendants used their proceeds to finance unrelated businesses and to purchase luxury items, including cars, boats, motorcycles, race horses, residential properties, and travel to the Caribbean and other overseas vacation destinations.
Duke’s criminal history includes embezzlement, credit card fraud, receiving and concealing stolen property, escape, aggravated stalking, and disturbing the peace.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Shaw and Stephen Hiyama and investigated by the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service.

Huntington Police shoot-kill man who attacked security officer with knife www.privateofficer.com

Huntington WV Dec 23 2012 The Huntington Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a fatal shooting involving a Huntington police officer.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook says the officer was on patrol in the 3200 block of Riverside Drive around 1am Saturday when he saw what appeared to be a crash involving a tractor trailer truck and a small vehicle in a gravel lot near the Wickline Bridge.

When the officer got out of his cruiser, he was confronted by 32-year-old Joshua Emerson of Hamilton, Alabama who was allegedly armed with a knife and a security guard who was working nearby at Special Metals.

The officer says the man tried to attack the security guard with the knife, and that’s when he shot several rounds from his gun. The officer struck the suspect, killing him.

The names of the officer and the suspect have not been released at this time.

Source:WCHS

Tennessee man faces charges after striking deputy sheriff at MS. welcome center www.privateofficer.com

HANCOCK COUNTY, MS April 11 2012

A Tennessee man faces felony charges in Hancock County after officials say he hit a deputy with his car Saturday night.

Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam said Deputy Lavern Lott was patrolling the Mississippi Welcome Center around 8pm when he spotted a drunk woman walk to the commercial area of the rest stop, and get into a car with two men.

The deputy pulled up to the car and asked the trio to step out of the car. That’s when the driver, Jason Cook, 36, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, suddenly threw the car in reverse, hit the gas, and struck Deputy Lott in the side.

The man in the front seat then opened the door to get out, but Cook made a quick u-turn, throwing the man from the car. Cook took off, leaving his passenger on the ground.

The man wasn’t seriously injured, but was taken by ambulance to Hancock Medical Center for treatment. Before deputies could talk to him, he left the hospital.

Meanwhile, another deputy spotted Cook’s car at Gators’ on Highway 603. When he approached the car, Cook ran off into the woods. He was captured a short time later with help from a K-9 unit.

Jason Cook is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident public drunkenness, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Cook’s bond was set at $12,500. He was set to make an initial court hearing in Hancock County Justice Court Tuesday.

The woman in the case was arrested at Gator’s after Cook ran in the woods. Dominique Godwin, 33, of Eight Mile, Alabama, is charged with public drunkenness and leaving the scene of an accident.

The third person who fled from the hospital has not been identified. Investigators said more charges could be filed in the case.

Source: WLOX

Former security guard indicted for stealing identities-filing false tax returns www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Montgomery, Alabama Jan 27 2012 - Chiquita Smith, 22, of Montgomery, Alabama, was indicted last week for conspiring to steal identities in order to obtain cash from falsely filed tax returns, announced George L. Beck, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.

According to the indictment, Smith was at one time an employee at Vinson Guard Service, Inc. During her employment at Vinson Guard Service, she was given a key to the entrance of the Department of Human Resources building. Smith and two other people used that key to go into the Department of Human Resources and steal names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth of persons who received services from the State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources. Smith then turned over those names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth to a false tax preparer. This tax preparer used this stolen information to file false tax returns that generated tax refunds. The money from the tax refunds was illegally kept by the false tax preparer.

“My office will continue to work with the IRS to vigorously prosecute those people who steal an innocent person’s identity, just to file a false tax return and steal the tax refunds,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck. “These criminals need to be punished for the harm they cause to the person whose identity is stolen and the harm they cause to U.S. taxpayers.”

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison. She is also subject to fines and mandatory restitution if convicted.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brent Woodall is prosecuting the case.

Information Source: US Department of Justice

Alabama security officer unpaid by company www.privateofficer.com

FOLEY, Alabama Sept 20 2009 – Steve Bradford says he worked for Guardian Enterprise Securities this summer, but says he hasn’t seen a paycheck in weeks! Bradford’s bills are piling up, including a doctor’s bill for his sick baby.

“I’ve lost my car, I’ve had to sell it for food, I’m losing my house right now, I’m having to move out,” says Bradford. “I can’t afford to get her medicine, all she can do is cry because she’s in pain.”

Bradford claims the owner of Guardian, Randy Crockett, owes him one-thousand dollars for unpaid work. Bradford says he worked as a security officer at a Gulf Shores apartment complex which had a contract with the now defunct Guardian Enterprise Securities. Bradford says Crockett owes other guards money as well and has contacted and attorney about the problem.

Crockett would not talk to News 5 on camera but says the economy forced him out of business. Crockett promised to pay his former workers.

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Homeowner Finds Someone Else Living In Her House www.privateofficer.com

Friday, October 19, 2007

Homeowner Finds Strangers Moved In While She Was Gone by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com

DECATUR, Ala. Oct. 19, 2007–
Sometimes after taking a long vacation or being away on an extended business trip a person can get very homesick and other times when you arrive back the house doesn’t quite look as you remembered it. Such was the case of a woman in northern Alabama recently.
Kim Ledford returned to her home after an extended absence and found a strange man in her bed and a woman wearing her clothes. Then another man walked up to question why she was in his house. She dialed 911 and police were able to arrive before the intruders had a chance to move on.
Once police sorted things out, two of the visitors were charged with burglary, Kelly Jo Moore, 45, and Cornelius Goode, 29. The man in the bed was not immediately identified or charged.
Decatur police spokesman Lt. Frank DeButy said Moore was wearing Ledford’s clothes and said she would leave the home if it was causing a problem.
DeButy says Goode falsely claimed to be the owner of the residence. It’s unclear how long the intruders had been living in the house.
DeButy said police also found drug paraphernalia on Moore.
Moore and Goode are currently living in the Morgan County Jail. Ahhh, home sweet home.

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