‘Bill Burke’ Gets 9 Years for Homeowner Scam & Tax Evasion

HARTFORD, CT – Timothy W. Burke, a 65-year-old con man known by a dizzying array of aliases – “Bill Burke,” “William Burke,” “Kerry Saunders,” “Pat Riley,” and more – was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison today, followed by three years of supervised release. Burke, formerly of Easton, Connecticut, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion, bringing a long-running scheme to a bitter end.

Between 2010 and 2015, Burke preyed on vulnerable homeowners facing foreclosure, promising to take over their mortgages and “walk them away” from their financial burdens. He strong-armed them into signing over quitclaim deeds and other documents, all while ignoring their lenders and failing to make a single mortgage payment. Instead, Burke rented out the properties through Craigslist and pocketed the cash, leaving homeowners facing foreclosure and renters unknowingly dealing with a fraudster. Dozens were victimized by his callous scheme.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut detailed how Burke operated a sophisticated network of shell companies – Quality Asset Management Services, LLC; Birmingham Investments, LLC, and others – to disguise his identity and funnel illicit proceeds. He wasn’t just after a quick buck; this was a calculated, years-long operation designed to exploit desperation and evade justice. Burke’s efforts to hide his criminal past and multiple identities proved insufficient against federal investigators.

But the homeowner scam wasn’t Burke’s only transgression. Between 1994 and 2012, he stiffed the IRS out of approximately $403,726 in federal taxes. The total he now owes, including penalties and interest, has ballooned to over $1 million. This isn’t a first-time offender; Burke has a history of defrauding people. In 2002, he was convicted of conspiracy, mail fraud, and equity skimming in New Jersey, serving 60 months in prison and receiving three years of supervised release. A condition of that release? Staying out of the real estate business – a condition he flagrantly ignored.

Burke has been locked up since his arrest on November 19, 2015. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea will determine the amount of restitution Burke will be ordered to pay to his victims in a future court proceeding. While nine years behind bars offers some measure of justice, the damage done to these families and the financial wreckage left in Burke’s wake will linger for years to come.

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, led the prosecution. This case serves as a grim reminder that those who prey on the vulnerable will face the full force of federal law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.