WOMAN CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT WITH MAIL FRAUD
BIRMINGHAM - A federal grand jury today indicted a Birmingham woman for mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance announced.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges CHARLENE ANDREWS, 36, with mail fraud in connection to her application for a mortgage loan to buy a house.
According to the indictment, the fraud occurred as follows: ANDREWS applied for a mortgage loan in March 2007, causing the application and supporting documents to be mailed to NorthStar Mortgage Company. In each of those documents, ANDREWS falsely claimed that she received monthly Social Security disability benefits. Had ANDREWS accurately reported her income, she would not have been eligible to receive the mortgage loan.
The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $69,500, the amount of the fraudulently obtained loan.
The maximum sentence for mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Special agents of the FBI, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, worked this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney is prosecuting it.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Prisoner Re-entry
If you believe your organization has expertise or resources that could improve outcomes for ex-offenders re-entering society, please e-mail our Community Outreach Coordinator at Jeremy.Sherer@usdoj.gov
or call 205-244-2019.
The Office of U.S. Attorney
Joyce White Vance
Natural Disaster Fraud Hotline
Members of the public can report fraud, waste, abuse or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations through the Hotline, toll free, at (866) 720-5721 or the Disaster Fraud e-mail at disaster@leo.gov. Please see the News Release Justice Department Officials Raise Awareness of Disaster Fraud Hotline
