Former Sacramento-Area Loan Officer Pleads Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO, CA—Alexander A. Romaniolis, 48, of Irvine, pleaded guilty today to mortgage fraud, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment on March 21, 2013, charging Romaniolis with mail fraud.

According to court documents, Romaniolis recruited five straw buyers to purchase eight California residential properties in Rocklin, Roseville, and San Clemente. Romaniolis assisted the straw buyers in providing false information to lenders about their employment, income, assets, and intent to occupy properties as primary residences. In most cases, the straw buyers claimed to be executives of companies created and controlled by Romaniolis. He was responsible for the origination of more than $5 million in residential mortgage loans in the scheme. All of the properties were foreclosed on, resulting in a total loss of more than $2 million.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force. The Huntington Beach Police Department assisted in the arrest. Assistant United States Attorney Jean M. Hobler is prosecuting the case.

Romaniolis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, 2014. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.