Riverview Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank, Mail Fraud Relating to Real Estate Mortgages

TAMPA—United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Alejandro Matos (43, Riverview) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud. Matos faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Matos worked as a mortgage broker and loan processor for a company in Tampa, Florida. In that capacity, he assisted in the preparation of loan documents and documentation to various mortgage lenders on behalf of clients. In October 2007, Matos assisted two clients in purchasing a residence at 2304 West Flora Street in Tampa, Florida. Matos assisted in the preparation and submission of a Uniform Residential Loan Application in aid of that purchase, which contained numerous false and fraudulent representations related to the purchaser’s place of employment and income. Matos submitted those statements to HSBC Mortgage Corporation in connection with that mortgage application.

In November, 2007, a Uniform Residential Loan Application was submitted to Washington Mutual Bank, N.A. (WAMU) in support of an application by the same client, who was seeking to obtain financing for the purchase of a condominium unit at the Arbors in Carrollwood. In support of that application, a number of false and fraudulent representations were made to the lender. At or about the same time, Matos also aided in the submission of other false or fraudulent documents to WAMU in support of an application by another company client to purchase another condominium unit at the Arbors.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.