Antonio Marquette, Mail, Wire, and Money Laundering, California 2017
Man Convicted of Stealing Over $1.5 Million from Distressed Homeowners
SANTA ANA, California - Antonio Marquette, 56, of Midway City, was convicted of nine counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
Marquette, who went by 'Alan Le' and 'Anthony Le,' operated Bolsa Marketing Group in Garden Grove in 2010 and 2011, targeting distressed homeowners, mostly members of Vietnamese communities in Southern California, the Bay Area, and Houston. He charged homeowners up to $100,000 in cash for services that were not provided.
The evidence showed that Marquette promised homeowners mortgage loan modifications that would substantially reduce their mortgage payments, avoid foreclosure, or eliminate their mortgage loans entirely. He took in over $1.5 million from victim-homeowners.
As part of the scheme, Marquette made various promises to homeowners, including making guarantees that he could reduce their outstanding debt to 25 percent of the loan balance in only four months. He also sent fraudulent checks to 'pay off' mortgages and filed bogus documents with county recorders' offices, according to court documents.
The case against Marquette was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Staples.
Marquette's sentencing hearing is set for January 30, 2017, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 220 years.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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