Taunton Man Sentenced, Pleads Guilty to Lying to the FBI
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 22, 2010 |
BOSTON, MA—A former Hanover man was sentenced today in federal court to two years' probation for making false statements to a federal agency about his supposed victimization in a mortgage fraud scheme.
PAUL L. PLAHN, 43, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to two years of probation. On June 23, 2010, he pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false statements to a federal agency.
Plahn had developed an elaborate scheme to deceive his wife and extended family about their deteriorating financial status and avoid losing their Hanover house in foreclosure. In April 2008, Plahn told an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he was a victim of unscrupulous mortgage lenders and foreclosure rescue services. Among other things, Plahn told the agent that he was assisting in a “sting” operation being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police investigating mortgage fraud and provided the agent with a letter on State Police letterhead thanking Plahn for his efforts. In fact, there was no sting operation and Plahn had fabricated the letter.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Richard DesLaureiers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office and Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney announced the sentencing today. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra S. Bower of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.