April 6, 2010

LEAWOOD BROKER SENTENCED TO 16+ YEARS IN MORTGAGE FRAUD CASE

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Wildor Washington, Jr., 40, Leawood, Kan., has been sentenced to 200 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $3.7 million in restitution after his conviction on federal mortgage fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Washington pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. In his plea, he admitted in 2003 he conspired with other defendants to obtain mortgage loans by submitting inflated property appraisals and other false information to lenders.

Washington pleaded guilty to wire fraud counts involving the sale of properties in the 2400 block of Olive in Kansas City, Mo.; the 4000 block of Virginia in Kansas City, Mo.; the 500 block of Sharon Drive in Liberty, Mo.; the 4600 block of 146th Street in Leawood, Kan.; and the 12400 block of East 58th in Kansas City, Mo.

Co-defendants in this case include:

Kara E. Robinson-Franks, who was sentenced to 36 months.
Scott Alexander, who was sentenced to 12 months and a day
Victoria Bennett, who is set for sentencing April 12, 2010.
Terrence Cole, who is set for sentencing April 12, 2010.
Maurice Ragland, who is set for sentencing April 26, 2010.

Welch commended the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations Division, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Overland Park Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service’s Financial Crimes Task Force and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marietta Parker and Christopher Oakley for their work on the case.