Wood County Man Sentenced For False Statement On Mortgage App

           TYLER, Texas – A 40-year-old Quitman, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today

           Daniel Huffman, also known as Steven Ball, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2014 to making a false statement on a loan application and was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.  Huffman was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $196,028.52.

           According to information presented in court, on Jan. 23, 2012, Huffman applied for a mortgage loan under the false name of Steven Ball.  Huffman was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 23, 2013 and charged with federal violations. 

           This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

            President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

                This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.