Easton Man Pleads Guilty in Distressed Homeowner Scam
Timothy W. Burke, 65, also known as “Bill Burke,” “William Burke,” “Kerry Saunders,” “Pat Riley,” “Jim Caldwell,” “Jim Saunders,” “Tom Morrisey,” “Jimmy,” “Phil Burke,” “Phil,” “Burt,” “James Burke,” and “M. Soler,” pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to mail fraud and tax evasion offenses stemming from a long-running scheme that targeted distressed homeowners.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2010 and November 2015, Burke engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals, mortgage lenders and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by falsely representing to homeowners who were in, or facing, foreclosure on their homes that he would purchase their homes and pay off their mortgages.
Burke also took control of the homes after gaining trust from the homeowners, renting them out to tenants and collecting rent, which he used for his own benefit. However, he failed to pay the homeowners’ mortgages and property taxes.
Burke undertook extensive efforts to disguise his true identity and hide his criminal past from his victims through the use of multiple aliases and business entities.
In addition, Burke evaded paying approximately $403,726 in federal taxes between 1994 and 2012.
Burke was previously indicted in New Jersey in 2002 on charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and equity skimming, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was released from federal custody in approximately August 2007 and began his federal supervised release at that time.
Judge Shea scheduled sentencing for April 18, 2017. Burke has been detained since his arrest on November 19, 2015.
Related Federal Cases
- David Quatrella Admits Role in $272K STOLI Scam · Connecticut
- NY Duo Sentenced in $179K Credit Card Scam · Pennsylvania
- Western Union Scam · Washington
- Bridgeport Man Charged with Defrauding Distressed Homeowners · Maryland
- ‘Bill Burke’ Gets 9 Years for Homeowner Scam & Tax Evasion · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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