Trevor Cook Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Swindling 923 Investors out of $158 Million

Trevor Cook, age 38, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, was sentenced in federal court in Minneapolis for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that collectively cost more than 900 investors $158 million. United States District Court Judge James M. Rosenbaum sentenced Trevor Gilson Cook to 300 months in prison on one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion in connection to the crime. In imposing the sentence, Judge Rosenbaum described Cook’s offense as “retched, tawdry, and cheap.”
Cook was charged on March 30, 2010, and pleaded guilty on April 13, 2010.

Cetatean moldovean pledeaza vinovat pentru numeroase infractiuni

Viorel Simon, Nodirbek Abdoollayev, and Bakhrom Ikramov have all pleaded guilty to charges related to their roles in a criminal enterprise that engaged in numerous criminal activities including forced labor, fraud in foreign labor contracting, visa fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, tax evasion, and money laundering, the Department of Justice announced.

“These defendants took part in a modern day slavery scheme that victimized vulnerable individuals for profit,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Forced labor robs victims of their freedom and their dignity, and it will not be tolerated in the United States. We will continue the aggressive prosecution of cases like this.”

According to court documents, Simon pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and fraud in foreign labor contracting. Simon actively supervised foreign national workers knowing that many of these workers were recruited with false promises and were coerced to work by threats of deportation and other adverse immigration consequences. Abdoollayev, who pleaded guilty to racketeering, assisted in the recruitment of foreign national workers, solicited hotels for housekeeping positions in which the foreign national workers were placed by the criminal enterprise, and laundered proceeds of the criminal enterprise. Ikramov, who pled guilty to wire fraud, fraudulently misrepresented the criminal enterprise’s payroll in order to defraud companies of insurance premiums.

Multiple co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty in connection with the case. On Aug. 18, 2010, Andrew Cole pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and fraud in foreign labor contracting. Ilkham Fazilov pled guilty on Aug 9. 2010 to racketeering conspiracy for his role in aiding and abetting others in the scheme. Jakhongir Kakhkharov pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy on March 17, 2010. Alexandru Frumusache pled guilty on Oct. 7, 2009 to forced labor trafficking. Abdukakhar Azizkhodjaev pled guilty on June 18, 2010 to misprision of a felony. Trial for the remaining defendants is set for Oct. 18, 2010.

Ex Pastor Charged With Fraud

Wayne Taft Harris, Jr., 36, formerly of Indianapolis, Indiana, was charged on July 7, 2010, with wire fraud following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The indictment alleges that Harris contacted Third World Missions, a Christian faithbased organization located in Florida that operates bible schools and orphanages in various locations throughout the world, to obtain a loan with which to construct a church facility in Indianapolis. Third World Missions loaned Harris $483,000 for the construction of the church facility proposed by Harris. The indictment further alleges Harris used at least $144,584 of the loan proceeds for other purposes, including the purchase of a Mercedes Benz automobile, the purchase of a Christian bookstore and its inventory, and the purchase of a man's mink coat. Harris later sent a fax to Third World Missions in which he blamed an unidentified staff member for having misappropriated the funds.

Timothy M. Morrison, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Indiana, announced the charges.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe H. Vaughn, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Harris faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Two Plead Guilty to $2.5 Million Mortgage Fraud Scam

Two Prior Lake men have pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis for their roles in a scheme that defrauded mortgage lenders out of more than $2.5 million by causing them to make loans based on false information. Appearing before United States District Court Judge David S. Doty earlier today, Beau Wesley Gensmer, age 28, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection to that crime. Christopher Glenn Kennedy, age 31, pleaded guilty to the same charges on August 6, 2010. Gensmer and Kennedy were indicted on April 21, 2010. A third co-defendant pleaded guilty earlier in the case.

In their respective plea agreements, Gensmer and Kennedy admitted that from July of 2007 to September of 2008, they executed the mortgage-fraud scheme. They admitted that in April of 2007, a multi-unit condominium building was built in Prior Lake by a development company owned by one of Gensmer’s relatives. The units were listed for sale but were removed from the market after only a couple of units were successfully sold. Later during the summer of 2007, Gensmer and Kennedy admittedly solicited three individuals to purchase multiple condominium units as “investments.” Gensmer and Kennedy assured the “investors” that they would pay nothing to buy the properties because the down payments and monthly mortgage payments would be provided to them by Gensmer and Kennedy. Moreover, Gensmer and Kennedy admitted they recruited the investors by telling them that the condos would be rented for a time but ultimately sold at a profit, and that the investors would share in that profit.

In order for the investors to qualify for their mortgage loans, Gensmer and Kennedy caused accountants to prepare tax returns that reflected inflated income figures. Those returns and other fraudulent documents were then knowingly submitted to potential mortgage lenders by the defendants. Gensmer and Kennedy also temporarily deposited money into the bank accounts of some of the investors to make it appear to potential lenders that the investors had more cash on hand than they actually did. As a result of those actions, ten mortgage lenders funded the purchase of 18 condominium units by the three investors. Eventually, Gensmer and Kennedy stopped supplying the property purchasers with monthly mortgage payments, causing the loans to go into default and then into foreclosure.

The defendants admitted that due to their actions, mortgage loan lenders wire transferred funds on 15 different occasions. The men also admitted that on two occasions, they used some of those fraudulently obtained funds as down payments to a title company for additional condo purchases, and that the title company was owned in part by individuals with an ownership interest in the entity that originally constructed the condo building.

For their crimes, the defendants face a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud charge and 10 years on the money laundering charge. Judge Doty will determine their sentences at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

Obama Administration Housing Scorecard Shows Continued Progress in Housing Market, but Challenges Remain

Impact of Administration efforts seen in increased affordability and continued house price stabilization; data underscores more work ahead to stem foreclosures, delinquencies

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the August edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard (www.hud.gov/scorecard), a comprehensive report on the nation's housing market. In July, housing prices remained level after 30 straight months of decline, while some price predictions have improved. In addition, historic low interest rates continued to promote home affordability and refinancing options for the nation's families. However, the market remains fragile with foreclosure starts showing a slight increase and serious delinquencies continuing to work through the pipeline.

"While there has been some stabilization in the housing market, it remains clear that we have more work ahead," said HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostic. "Through the Obama Administration's efforts over the past 16 months, we have seen increased price stabilization and improved home affordability for prospective, qualified homebuyers. At the same time, we know that we must continue to provide support to underwater borrowers, unemployed homeowners, and to the nation's hardest hit neighborhoods."

The August Housing Scorecard features key data on the health of the housing market including:

· Stabilizing housing prices drive improving expectations in some regions. After 30 straight months of decline, home prices have leveled off in the past year; futures indices have shifted upward since January 2009 as signs of recovery continue, although overall housing outlook measures remain mixed.

· More than twice as many modification arrangements begun compared to foreclosure completions. More than 3.15 million modification arrangements were done from April 2009 through the end of June 2010. This includes more than 1.3 million trial Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) modifications started, over 472,000 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, and 1.4 million proprietary modifications under HOPE Now. The number of agreements offered continues to more than double foreclosure completions for the same period (1.24 million).

· More than 4.2 million families have benefited from housing counseling since April 2009. Working with a HUD-approved housing counselor can help borrowers manage debts apart from a mortgage – car payments, credit cards and personal loans, for example – and help them avoid falling into default.

· More than 37,000 homeowners received a HAMP permanent modification in July. While the pace of program entry has slowed due to upfront documentation requirements in place since June 1, this policy change streamlines the process to help more eligible homeowners convert to a permanent modification. Homeowners in permanent modifications are experiencing a median payment reduction of 36 percent, or more than $500 per month.

"HAMP, which represents just one, targeted piece of the Administration's larger efforts on housing, has so far offered more than a million and half responsible homeowners the chance to modify their mortgages. This program has helped to stabilize a housing market that remains fragile and has redefined the modification standard for the industry – both of which are delivering real benefits to struggling homeowners in communities across the country," said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herb Allison. "Currently servicers are working through their pending modifications, and while Making Home Affordable works for a number of homeowners, many others are offered other means of avoiding foreclosure. As careful stewards of the scarce resources of the American taxpayer, we see this as prudent progress – and we will keep working to help the Americans hardest hit by this crisis."

Data in the scorecard show that the recovery in the housing market continues to remain fragile, with some measures suggesting recovery will take place over time. For example, foreclosure starts went up slightly in July from the previous month, but remain well below July 2009 levels.

Foreclosure completions also inched upward as the volume of serious delinquencies continues to work through the pipeline.

Each month, the Housing Scorecard incorporates key housing market indicators and highlights the impact of the Administration's unprecedented housing recovery efforts, including assistance to homeowners through the FHA and HAMP.

North Carolina appraiser sentenced 2 years behind bars

R. Michael Gee of Mooresville, North Carolina, received a 24 months in prison sentenced, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He will have to repay also $3,563,125.27 in restitution for his crimes. Gee pleaded guilty in June of 2009 to in connection with his participation in a mortgage fraud scheme involving about $15 million in loans and more than 200 properties.

Mortgage Brokerage got Million Dollar Judgment

A mortgage brokerage, from Seattle, WA as been order by an Ada County, Idaho, judge to pay more than $1 million in penalties and restitution for violating Idaho laws relating to mortgage and financial fraud.

The district judge found that Access Mortgage had engaged in numerous violations of law, to include submitting a false mortgage loan application to a lender, violating an order previously issued against the company by the Department of Finance, misrepresenting information the company provided to the department, refusing to provide the department with information requested during an investigation of the company's activities in Idaho, originating mortgage loans in Idaho through unlicensed mortgage loan originators on 405 occasions throughout the state with concentrations in Boise and northern Idaho, and failing to provide an elderly Idaho couple with required notices concerning closing costs the couple would be incurring on a mortgage loan obtained for them by Access Mortgage. In a related order, the district judge found that the company's violations were "aggravated and serious."

The judgment included a permanent injunction against further violations of the Idaho Residential Mortgage Practices Act and the Idaho Financial Fraud Prevention Act. Moreover, the judgment included a penalty amount of $1,055,000 entered against Access Mortgage, and ordered the company to pay restitution in the amount of $27,322.18 on behalf of the Idaho couple injured by the company's violations.

Casatoriile pentru green card in fam. Tohatan

Casatoria, green cardul si credinta
Casatoriile pentru un green card American sunt, indiferent de religie, o practica la moda printre romani care au trecut Atlanticul. Daca pe fratii ortodoxi ii intelegm, ei au circumstante atenuante, ca ei sunt considerati a fi "din lume, oi ratacite si pribege", etc..., ce facem cu fratii pocaitii, ei ce scuza au?! In ciuda faptului ca morala crestina si Biblia interzice o astfel de practica indiferent de religie, fratii nostrii penticostali practica frecvent astfel de metode. Biserica Elim din Chicago are mai multi asa zisi "frati" in biserica care au dobandit rezidenta si cetatenia prin casatorii fictive.
Astfel de casatorii sunt la moda si se realizeaza fie prin deplasarea "mireselor" sau "mirilor" in Romania unde se casatoresc cu pretendentii lor contra cost, fie prin rezolvarea unei vize de turist si apoi o casatorie fictiva in America. Pastorii stiu si ei dar tac sau se fac ca ploua, ca doar "Domnul e bun, milostiv, plin de indurare si iarta".
Uneori casatoria se face cu intentii serioase de cate o sora pocaita mai grasuta care merge si isi aduce mirele din Romania, ca ulterior sa realizeze ca de fapt respectivul vroia doar green cardul si cetatenia. "To late" insa....
Pentru ca le este rusine sa faca publica situatia oamenii prefera sa taca si sa accepte situatia tacit. Sigur pentru multi din cei care citesc nu este o noutate ce va spunem noi aici. Nimeni insa nu discuta problema decat pe la colturi, duminica cand ies din biserici.
Este o vorba ca "pana la Dumnezeu te mananca sfintii", asa ca pana una alta nu e rau sa stie lumea cine sunt cei care ne propovaduiesc de pe la anvoane, sali polivalente si stadioane. Din pacate se profita la greu de naivitatea si credinta sincera a unor oameni cu adevarati crestini, evlaviosi si cu frica de Dumnezeu care frecventeaza aceste biserici.
Da, trebuie sa ne rugam si pentru ei sa se indrepte dar uneori trebuie ajutati prin expunerea lor publica, ca asa poate, poate se vor pocai.
Daca regula cu casatoria este acceptata ca fiind din ce in ce mai "OK" ~e adevarat, neoficial~ in bisericile neoprotestante si in special cele penticostale, a caror enoriasi ~unii din ei, nu toti~ in ultima vreme prin America o cam iau razna in privinta comportamentului,( bautura, cluburi de noaptea, jocuri de poker, fraude imobiliare, bancare, mita, etc...) ar fi bine sa stie asta tot crestinul. Daca sunt ele sunt OK, sa nu mai astepte nici ceilalti ca Obama sa dea legea imigratiei. Nu?!
Casatoria buclucasului Nicusor
Din surse care provin din anturajul familiei Tohatan, am fost informati ca Nicusor, aka Nick/Nicu Joe Tohatan, fiul lui Nicolae Tohatan, fratele pastorului Stefan Tohatan , ar fi realizat o astfel de casatorie cam neortodoxa.Dupa ce s-a cam saturat de plimbat in Europa, prin Spania, Franta, Anglia sau Norvegia, Nicusor Tohatan, cu ajutorul unor baieti "buni" ar fi facut rost de un pasaport norvegian cu numele de Eric Kruger. Cu ajutorul lui, folosind o identitate falsa, ar fi intrat ilegal in Statele Unite aproximativ in anul 2003, in statul Florida. Ajutat de niste rude care locuiau in Detroit, Michigan a reusit sa obtina un carnet de conducere, cu toate ca nu locuia acolo. Acesta a locuit la Chicago pana la sfarsitul lui 2006 sau inceputul lui 2007, impreuna cu tatal sau Nicolae Tohatan care ajunsese si el cu o viza de munca ajutat de Stefan Tohatan. Intre timp Nicu s-a botezat se pare in biserica Elim si a reusit, la o intalnire de tineret, sa o cunoasca pe Ioana, o romanca pocaita stabilita cu familia in California. Dupa ceva timp s-au decis ca sa se casatoreasca, iar Nicu i-a dat un inel de logodna in vara lui 2006. Trebuia ca urmatorul pas sa fie casatoria pentru a lua actele. Pentru ca el era cu pasaport si nume fals in SUA nu putea sa se casatoreasca in State, motiv pentru care au decis sa se casatoreasca in Romania. La intoarcerea in tara se pare ca prieteni apropiati lui Nicu Tohatan l-au asteptat in Ungaria unde i-a inmanat pasaportul romanesc cu care a intrat apoi in Romania. Dupa ce s-a casatorit sotia i-a plecat inapoi in SUA el ramanand sa astepte actele de la ambasada americana din Bucuresti. Intre timp a mai dat o fuga prin Europa, locuind in Anglia unde se pare ca are prieteni buni.
Dupa ce a ajuns in SUA, sotia lui, Ioana Ghiboi, a realizat ca de fapt casatoria e fictiva, insa deja intrase in joc si la presiunile exercitate de Nicu Tohatan Jr. aceasta a acceptat sa isi joace rolul de sotie, doar ca ea traia in California avand viata proprie, iar el in Chicago.
Dorinta de avere
Intre timp ca sa nu stea degeaba Nicolae Tohatan Jr. lacom sa cumpere si el o proprietate, pentru ca nu avea acte si creditul necesar, a convins pe o nepoata din Chicago, sa ia un imprumut de peste 100 de mii de dolari, si sa-l ajute sa isi ia un apartament la adresa Wiston Tower, 7033 N Kedzie Apt. 1510 Chicago. Imprumutul a fost facut pe numele nepoatei dar Nicolae Tohatan si Nicu Jr. au locuit acolo si au platit ratele la banca pana in 2009. Cand au vazut ca piata imobiliara cade au inceput sa o dea cotita si sa nu mai plateasca ratele lunare. Nu le-a pasat pentru ca nu creditul lor urma sa fie distrus, ci al nepoatei, pe care au fortat-o sa isi distruga creditul si posibil chiar sa dea faliment. Pentru ca voiau sa profite cat mai mult, chiar si in prezent Nicu Jr. locuieste in casa fara sa mai plateasca si in plus tatal sau refuza sa predea titlul de propreitate.
Cu toate ca avea bani sa plateasca , Nicu Jr. n-a mai platit pentru ca auzise el ca "prietenii de-ai lui" nu au mai platit nici ei si pe urma banca negocia o rata lunara mai mica. Incapatanarea lui a dus de fapt la foreclosure.

Dovezi in imagini cum ca Nicusor a fost in America inainte de 2007.

Nicusor Joe Tohatan se afla in SUA in vara lui 2006. Tocmai oferise inelul de logodna Ioanei.
Sub ce nume oare era pe teritoriul SUA? In evidentele de la adminsitratia blocului unde locuia cu tatal sau, era inregistrat cu numele de Eric Kruger.
Foto: 16 februarie, 2007 Nicu Joe Tohatan asteptand in Romania actele de la ambasada americana.
Ce-a declarat oare Nicusor in formularul de aplicatie, cand a fost intrebat daca a mai fost sau nu in SUA?
Aici poza mandru imbracat in politist intr-o masina de politie. Tohatan Jr. impersoneaza fals un politist folosind si echipamentul din dotare.
Cei de la politia Maramures au declarat ca nu au si n-au avut nici un politist cu numele lui.

Plictisit probabil de asteptarea in Romania, Nicusor a mai dat in martie, 2007 o tura pe la prietenii din Anglia.

In zecile de poze postate pe diferite situri pe internet, inclusiv cele de mai jos din 2009, Ioana, sotia lui Nicu Tohatan, apare peste tot, fara sot, el lipsind cu desarvarsire. Ea neaga ca n-ar fi impreuna, ba mai mult spune ca are o casatorie foarte fericita (!?). Interesant e ca sunt asa fericiti, dar duc vieti separate, ea se distraza si isi duce viata pe coasta de vest in California, iar el prin Chicago si in plimbari prin Romania.
Cand a fost intrebata despre poze si-a sters automat contul si pozele, crezand ca isi sterge urmele.

In prezent cei de la Imigration, dar si alte autoritati, investigheaza cazul.

Totodata apartamentul cumparat in 2005 in Wiston Tower, la adresa 7033 N Kedzie, in Chicago, cu un imprumut bancar de 128,000 de dolari, de catre Tohatan Nicolae si nepoata lui Julietta, a ramas din vara anului trecut cu ratele neplatite la banca.
Nicolae Tohatan a plecat la sfarsitul lui 2008 inapoi in Romania, in apartament locuind fiul lui, Nicu Joe Tohatan Jr.
Cu toate astea, Nicu J. Tohatan Jr. refuza sa paraseasca proprietatea locuind acolo fara sa plateasca chirie, profitand si tragand de timp, fortand acum cateva luni pe verisoara lui Julietta sa-l actioneze in judecata, ca sa-l evacueze, procesul fiind pe rol.

Din surse din anturajul familiei Tohatan se pare ca si Adrian Balint, cumnatul lui Stefan Tohatan, frate cu Lidia, ar fi ajuns in SUA tot printr-o casatorie fictiva facuta pentru acte.
Alte doua casatorii aranjate, dintre care una facuta de Sabinel Tohatan, fratele lui Stefan se pare ca ar fi esuat, pentru ca n-au platit sumele promise catre asa zisa "mireasa".