Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Memphis, TN – A Memphis real estate investor has pled guilty to a charge of bank fraud. Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney, announced the guilty plea today.

In September 2016, Thomas L. Boyd, 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans. The indictment alleged that Boyd, the owner of Wonderful Properties, LLC made false statements and presented false documents to Regions Bank, First Tennessee Bank, Bank of America and Oak Tree Funding on behalf of persons who were financing the purchase of properties from Boyd and Wonderful Properties.

According to the indictment, Boyd often made false statements on the loan closing documents by failing to disclose to the lenders on HUD-1 settlement statements that he was kicking back a portion of the loan proceeds to borrowers. Boyd’s scheme caused the lenders to disburse approximately $635,000 in loan proceeds.

At his plea hearing, Boyd admitted making false statements to Regions Bank in connection with a mortgage loan being made to an individual who was financing the purchase of a property from Boyd.

Boyd faces a maximum penalty of 30 years of imprisonment on the bank fraud charge and a fine of up to $1,000,000 and 5 years supervised release and a mandatory special assessment of $100.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

The case was investigated by the FBI; Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) – OIG; Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Postal Inspection Service and IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. Andre III is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.