Conspirator Pleads Guilty to $3.8 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Baltimore, Maryland –Alberic Okou Agodio, age 30, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, arising from a mortgage fraud scheme in which he used the names of immigrants and students, along with false financial information, to obtain approximately $3.8 million in home mortgage loans to buy approximately three dozen row houses in Baltimore, all of which are in default or foreclosure.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Olga Acevedo of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Cary A. Rubenstein of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Fran Mace, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“When we are made aware of individuals whose criminal conduct causes financial harm to the public and unnecessary risks to the FHA Insurance Fund we commit whatever resources are necessary to bring these individuals to justice and have them debarred from participation in government programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Cary Rubenstein of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. “Mortgage fraud investigations can be very labor intensive and we would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their collaborative efforts.”

According to his plea agreement, Agodio agreed to purchase row houses in Baltimore City from co-conspirator Kevin Campbell, who had acquired the houses as part of his real estate business.  Agodio purchased the houses at prices far in excess of their actual market value.  In return, Campbell kicked back a substantial portion of the purchase price to Agodio, which Agodio used to pay for the down payments and closing costs for most of the properties; to pay a commission to the individuals whom he persuaded to allow him to use their names to purchase the properties (“the straw purchasers”); to pay referral fees to individuals who referred other straw purchasers to him; and to compensate himself for his participation in the scheme.  In all, from June 2009 to November 2010, Agodio purchased 35 row houses from Campbell.  The financing received on these transactions totaled approximately $3.8 million and Agodio received commission payments from Campbell in excess of $1.2 million.

To perpetrate the scheme, Agodio persuaded approximately three dozen immigrants and students to purchase the row houses under their names.  Although none of these “straw purchasers” had any experience in real estate transactions, nor the funds needed to buy the properties, Agodio told each straw purchaser that he would prepare the loan application; manage the property after its purchase by finding renters, collecting the rent and paying the mortgage; and would pay the straw purchaser $7,000 to $8,000 after the transaction closed.  He further promised to sell the property in three years and give the individual up to 80% of the sale proceeds.  Agodio also paid thousands of dollars in additional commissions to those straw purchasers who referred other individuals to him as potential buyers for similar transactions.

Agodio admitted that he falsely represented in the loan applications the straw purchasers’ assets and earnings, and that the property would be the primary residence of the purchaser.  Agodio also provided fraudulent earnings and bank statements for the purchasers, to document the false information provided in the loan application.  Agodio provided the necessary funds for the down payment and the buyer’s share of the closing costs, causing the settlement statement form to inaccurately reflect that the down payments and closing costs had been paid by the straw purchasers.

Following the closings, Agodio retained the keys to each property and assumed the responsibility for finding renters and making the required monthly mortgage payments.  The named purchasers never lived in the properties.  Agodio eventually allowed all of the mortgages to go into default.

After a fire occurred at one of the row house properties purchased through a straw purchaser Agodio falsely identified himself as the straw purchaser to the insurance company in order to collect $106,500 in insurance paid for the repair the property.  Agodio cashed the check, which was made out to the straw purchaser and the bank holding the mortgage, and used the funds for his own purposes.  Agodio did not notify the bank that the funds to make the repairs to the property had been received, nor did he arrange to make or pay for any repairs to the property.

Kevin Campbell, age 52, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2015 at 9:15 a.m.

Agodio faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for conspiracy and for wire fraud; and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

The Maryland Mortgage Fraud Task Force was established to unify the agencies that regulate and investigate mortgage fraud and promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of mortgage fraud schemes. This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Task Force, demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect consumers from fraud and promote the integrity of the credit markets. Information about mortgage fraud prosecutions is available http://www.justice.gov/usao-md/financial-fraud-and-identity-theft.

Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since the inception of FFETF in November 2009, the Justice Department has filed more than 12,841 financial fraud cases against nearly 18,737 defendants including nearly 3,500 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended HUD- OIG, FDIC – OIG, FHFA - OIG and the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jefferson M. Gray, who is prosecuting the case.