Lansdale Man Charged In Multi-Million Dollar Mortgage Fraud Scheme

PHILADELPHIA - Willie G. Manley, Jr., 62, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was charged yesterday, by Information, with one count of conspiracy to commit loan and wire fraud, three counts of loan fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Federal Housing Administration Loan, two counts of wire fraud, and aiding and abetting, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

The information alleges a massive mortgage fraud conspiracy the operated between May 2004 and February 2009, primarily in the West Philadelphia section of the city of Philadelphia. Manley, an accountant, is alleged to have created false income documents, such as W-2 forms, paystubs, and Form 1040 income tax returns that were submitted to lenders to help induce the lenders into issuing mortgages for the properties. The information alleges that other co-conspirators included an appraiser who issued grossly inflated appraisals, a title agent who created false title insurance policies, contractors who submitted false receipts to show home repairs that had never been done, and numerous straw buyers whose names and identities were used to purchase the properties. The information alleges that a Philadelphia-based property settlement company - “KREW Settlement Services” - was at the center of the conspiracy. The information alleges that all told, the mortgage fraud scheme involved more than 100 properties and over $20 million in loan proceeds, with most of the mortgages being unpaid and the properties falling into foreclosure.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence 137 years in prison, five years supervised release, restitution of up to $13.7 million, a fine of up to $4 million and a $700 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael S. Lowe.

Click here to view the indictment

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525