Forest Woman Sentenced on False Statement Charge
Mary Novak Thompson was Part of Broader Scheme

LYNCHBURG, VA—A former financial specialist who falsified documents to support a broader mortgage fraud scheme was sentenced this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Lynchburg.

Mary Novak Thompson, 44, of Forest, Virginia, previously waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging her with making a false statement for the purpose of influencing the action of National City Mortgage. This morning, Thompson was sentenced to one day in prison and three months of home confinement. In addition, Thompson, a 25-year veteran of the banking industry, was barred from working in banking for 10 years.

“Ms. Thompson used her position at Wachovia Bank to facilitate a substantial mortgage fraud scheme,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “This case demonstrates our commitment to identifying and prosecuting financial fraud. We will continue to pursue those who attempt to manipulate the financial system through deception.”

According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene Day, Thompson was involved with Timothy Scott Brooks and Adam Spruill in a scheme to commit mortgage fraud. Thompson admitted that her role in the scheme was to falsely filling out verifications of deposits for Brooks and Spruill while she was employed as a financial specialist at Wachovia Bank.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Charlene Day and C. Patrick Hogeboom, III are prosecuting the case for the United States.