Chester Duo Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy And Other Charges

Steven Hameed, 57, and Darnell Young, 48, both of Chester PA, pleaded guilty today to all charges against them relating to a multi-year conspiracy to file false deeds on homes throughout Delaware County and file false tax forms against judges, law enforcement, and other government employees to try to intimidate and harass them in the course of their official duties, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. 

According to the Indictment, the defendants filed false land deeds with the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office in an attempt to claim ownership of homes owned by the government or by banks, and then to live in the homes, or rent/sell the homes to unsuspecting persons, for their own financial gain.  The Indictment further charges that the defendants filed hundreds of false tax forms against police officers, judges, and other government employees to try to harass and intimidate them in the course of their duties.  Defendants Hameed and Young also pleaded guilty to creating a false financial bond, which they mailed to a realtor in an attempt to purchase property.  

The defendants face substantial periods of incarceration, five-year periods of supervised release, restitution and substantial fines.  U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage has scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2016.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Delaware County Detectives, the Aston Police Department, and the Upper Darby Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz and Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.