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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
April 18, 2008
FEDERAL JUDGE REVOKES BONDS ON TWO CHARGED IN MORTGAGE FRAUD CASE
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two defendants charged in a $14 million mortgage fraud case were jailed Friday after a federal judge found they had violated the terms of their release.
Wildor Washington, Jr. and Victoria Bennett were taken into custody after Magistrate Judge David J. Waxse ruled in favor of a motion to revoke their bonds.
Washington and Bennett were charged in November 2007 in an indictment alleging that Washington, Bennett and four co-defendants took part in a mortgage fraud scheme through businesses Washington owned including Heritage Financial Investments, Legacy Enterprises, B&L Custom Development and Liberty Escrow. According to the indictment, Hamilton and the conspirators prepared fraudulent loan applications and submitted them to lenders in Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Missouri and Michigan.
On Nov. 8, 2007, Washington and Bennett were released on bond subject to conditions including a prohibition against taking part in any illegal activities while on release.
Subsequently, investigators obtained evidence that while on release Washington and Bennett were involved in further incidents of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
A jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 4, 2008.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren commended investigators for the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Secret Service as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker for their work on the case.
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