BENTON, Ill. – Former Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti was sentenced to two years of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 20 hours of community service for his role in a scheme to sell seven commercial rental properties by falsifying loan and other bank documents.
The scheme involved Zanotti, 45, allegedly agreeing with a bank president and the buyer to fraudulently make it appear as if the loan to buy the properties in Williamson and Franklin counties was actually a refinancing. Documents were backdated to falsely indicate the buyer purchased the properties on Feb. 1, 2022, for the inflated price of $545,152.
The real sales price for the properties was $436,122, and the buyers were not bringing any cash to the transaction. The bank’s loan to the buyers was approved based upon the false information.
Zanotti pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in Benton to one felony count of aiding and abetting the making of a false bank entry. He admitted to his role in the scheme during the trial.
The suspension of Zanotti’s law license is pending before the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Zanotti resigned as State’s Attorney later that year.
The FBI Springfield Office and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The prosecution was handled by Special Attorney Hal Goldsmith from the Eastern District of Missouri. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois was recused from the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Adam Bernaix Gets 37 Months for $350K Fraud Scheme · Illinois
- Williamson County’s Zanotti Pleads Guilty to Property Fraud Scheme · Illinois
- Illinois Bank prez Cook Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Records Scheme · Illinois
- Postal Worker Hinton Gets 12 Months for Mail Fraud Scheme · Illinois
- Ex-HR Manager Faces Prison for $113,984 Wire Fraud Scheme · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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