Fake Senator Scam: New Port Richey Man Indicted

A 67-year-old New Port Richey man is facing federal charges for impersonating a US Senator in a desperate bid to get out of paying off a mortgage loan.

Sidney C. Hines was indicted on five counts of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee of the United States, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison if he is convicted.

According to prosecutors, Hines received a mortgage loan secured by his home in New Port Richey and subsequently fell behind on his mortgage payments. In an effort to help delinquent borrowers such as Hines, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) created the HomeSaver Advance (“HSA”) loan program.

On October 15, 2008, Hines obtained a HSA loan for $5,863.73. However, he failed to make the required payments on his HSA loan and the loan was turned over to ClearSpring Loan Services, a debt collection agency.

Beginning in March 2013 and continuing through the end of 2014, Hines impersonated a sitting US Senator on multiple occasions in telephone calls that he made to ClearSpring. During those calls, acting as the Senator, he stated that Hines’s HSA loan was paid in full and that the loan should be removed from his credit report.

“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of one or more federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty,” said a spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office.

The case was investigated by the United States Capitol Police and the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant US Attorney Chris Poor.

Hines is scheduled to appear in federal court for arraignment at a later date.