A Philadelphia mortgage fraud scheme involving a mortgage broker, three of his colleagues and two local real estate companies leads to four indictments following an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The four men are accused of committing a mortgage fraud scam involving more than $30 million in loans.The four men have been identified as Anthony J. DeMarco III, 31, of Conshohocken, Michael Richard Roberts, 29, of Swedesboro, N.J., Sean Ryan McBride, 36, of Pittsburg, and Eric Bascove, 37, of Philadelphia.Mr. DeMarco has been accused of operating the investment scam under his two companies, DeMarco REI and King of Prussia and OPM Group. The men allegedly used fraudulent documents to attain mortgage loans from lenders in an attempt to steal equity in homes.Mr. DeMarco told unsuspecting homeowners that his companies could assist homeowners who were facing imminent foreclosure. The homeowners were told that they would be able to rent the houses back and would be able to re-buy the homes when they got financially back on their feet. Many of the homeowners supposedly found themselves facing eviction following the transactions with Mr. DeMarco’s companies.Prosecutors have charged Mr. DeMarco, Mr. Roberts and Mr. McBride with mail, wire and bank fraud. In addition, Mr. DeMarco was charged with money laundering.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.