Three Individuals Charged for Making False Statements to a Bank

United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that JARED CASTELLAW (“CASTELLAW”), and PATRICK HEALY (“HEALY”), employees of an undisclosed entity, ABC Homes, LLC, located in St. Bernard Parish, and VALERIE SCHONES (“SCHONES”), a loan officer from an undisclosed mortgage lending institution, XYZ Financial, based in Tuscon, Arizona, were charged on Thursday, October 25, 2018 in a one-count Bill of Information for Making False Statements to a Financial Institution.

According to the Information, beginning in or around October 2008 and continuing to on or about May 2009, CASTELLAW, HEALY, and SCHONES made false statements to the Federal Housing Administration “FHA” in order to qualify for FHA insured loans.

If convicted, CASTELLAW, HEALY, and SCHONES face a maximum of 30 years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, supervised release of up to 5 years, and a special assessment of $100.

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by The Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharan E. Lieberman and Edward J. Rivera.