Robinson to serve 27 years for mortgage fraud schemes

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United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced on Tuesday that former Austin resident Cornelius Robinson was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison for masterminding a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme. The overall conspiracy involved sixteen named defendants, at least 33 properties, 19 financial institutions and over $4.5 million in claimed losses.

After

failing to appear at his original sentencing hearing last month, Robinson was arrested in rural Caldwell County on Aug. 12. At the time of his arrest, Robinson was in possession of a shotgun as well as a 9mm pistol.

“Mortgage fraud and other criminal schemes involving the housing market are serious crimes which we will aggressively prosecute. Today’s sentence is clear evidence that these scammers will be punished. The house of cards which Mr. Robinson deceptively built came crashing down on him today when he was sentenced to over 27 years in prison,” stated United States Attorney Johnny Sutton.

In March, Robinson was convicted of conspiracy to make false statements related to a loan, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five substantive counts of wire fraud, 9 substantive counts of false statements related to a loan, one count of aiding and abetting the receipt of commissions or gifts from loans by a bank employee, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 7 substantive counts of money laundering.

From September 1999 to present, Robinson and his co-defendants participated in a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders, including federally insured financial institutions, with regard to loans acquired to purchase 33 properties in the Austin and San Antonio area. The scheme centered upon the use of real estate “flips.” That is, the defendants purchased property at one price and would immediately sell, or “flip,” the property to a “straw buyer” at a higher price. In doing so, the mortgage lenders were deceived as to the true nature of the transaction and the financial status of the “straw buyer.” The straw buyers did not make the subsequent monthly mortgage payments and all of the loans have gone into default. All of loans have been either foreclosed upon or are the subject of current foreclosure proceedings.
(Courtesy of Hector Gomez)

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1 comment

  1. marcus clark 26 June, 2017 at 02:16 Reply

    What happened to the victims of my uncle scam? Did they get there money back or house. my dad losted his house because of this scam and to this very day the people who supposedly bought it still own it.i know my uncle was wrong for such cruelty but justice has made its point,and im sure he’s a changed man.if anyone have answers to what can be done for my dad or if theres nothing he could do please let me know.

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