U.S. Attorney and FBI Present Mortgage Fraud Seminar

U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and the Birmingham office of the FBI will present a training seminar Wednesday on identifying and investigating mortgage fraud.

The workshop is targeted to law enforcement, prosecutors, financial institution investigators, and victim services personnel. It will be held at the Federal Reserve Bank, 524 Liberty Parkway, Vestavia Hills, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The number of vacant and abandoned properties continue to climb across the U.S., and mortgage fraud and foreclosures are reported to play a key role in the problem. One conservative estimate is $218 billion in losses in 2007 as a direct result of mortgage fraud on subprime loans.

Abandoned properties are often unsightly, diminish surrounding property values and invite disorder and criminal activity into the community. Reducing the frequency of these occurrences and restoring these properties to productive use can play a significant role in reducing and preventing neighborhood crime.

Presenters at the workshop will be FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jan Trigg, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Community Development Manager Sibyl Steverson Slade, Federal Trade Commission Assistant Regional Director Cindy Liebes and Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General Special Agent Donald Varner.

The registration fee is $10. For registration forms contact Laster at 244-2001, or e-mail to Lyndon.Laster@usdoj.gov.