Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Man pleads guilty in mortgage fraud scheme

A Columbia man pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of wire fraud and illegally using a Social Security number in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme.

Randal Antoine, 36, tried to defraud AmeriDream Inc. out of $328,000 by posing as a mortgage loan originator, according to U.S. Attorney Walter Wilkins' office. AmeriDream is a company that provides down payment assistance to first-time home buyers. Antoine used stolen identities and Social Security numbers of Midlands residents to apply for funding and falsely represented 38 loan closings to the company, the U.S. attorney's office said.

He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.

- Noelle Phillips

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