
FORMER OWNER OF MORTGAGE COMPANY, TITLE COMPANY OWNER, AND THREE OTHERS CHARGED IN MORTGAGE FRAUD CONSPIRACY
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael K. Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced that, on April 29, 2010, a federal grand jury returned a three count indictment charging Yvette Gonzalez Valdes, her daughter, Jeannine Valdes-Perez, her brother Joseph Gonzalez, her son-in-law Victor Perez, and Catherine Maiz with mortgage fraud in connection with the purchase of two properties, resulting in the approval and disbursement of more than $500,000 in mortgage loans. Valdes, Valdes-Perez, and Gonzalez were arrested and made their initial appearances in court on Friday, May 7, 2010. Maiz was arrested and made her initial appearance today. Perez remains at large.
According to the indictment, Perez was the listed borrower for both properties, bought within nine months of one another. Best Mortgage Choice LLC, a former mortgage brokerage firm owned and operated by Valdes-Perez, was the broker for each property transaction. Valdes, Valdes-Perez, Gonzalez, and Perez prepared and submitted fraudulent mortgage loan applications to the lenders, which included materially false information regarding Perez’s employment, income, assets, intent to live in the property and other information necessary to induce the lenders to approve the loans.
The indictment further alleges that Maiz, a part owner of Absolute Title, LLC, the title company for each deal, also submitted false information to the lenders to induce them to fund the loans. For one of the property transactions, Maiz submitted a letter to the lender falsely claiming that her company had received a $17,000 deposit being held in escrow. For the other deal, Maiz, together with Gonzalez-Valdes, Gonzalez, and Perez, prepared and submitted a false HUD-1 Settlement Statement to the lender that did not reflect the true nature of the transaction. Among other things, the HUD-1 Settlement Statement falsely indicated that Perez brought more than $26,000 to the closing, when, in fact, he did not bring any money the closing. Gonzalez-Valdes, Gonzalez, Perez, and Maiz prepared a second HUD-1 Settlement Statement, which was never disclosed to the lender, stating that Perez was not required to pay any money at closing.
After the loans were funded, Perez did not make the required payments on the loans, and each went into default. The defendants diverted property and proceeds from the fraudulently obtained loans for their own use and benefit.
The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1343. If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and the other law enforcement agencies comprising the Federal-State Mortgage Fraud Strike Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph B. Shumofsky.
An indictment is only an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Attachments:
Indictment (PDF)
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.