Marek Harrison, Bank Fraud, Florida 2023

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Florida Trio Indicted in Mortgage Swindle

Orlando, FL – In a shocking turn of events, three Florida men have been charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a mortgage scheme that could land them up to 30 years in federal prison each.

According to the indictment, Marek Harrison (53, Plant City), Brian Allard (45, Seminole), and Scot Rounds (44, Winter Garden) were involved in a complex mortgage fraud scheme involving the condo conversion of a former hotel, Saratoga Resort Villas, located in Kissimmee.

The indictment alleges that Harrison and Allard created and executed a scheme involving kickbacks of mortgage proceeds to buyers and co-conspirators, as well as misrepresentations regarding the source of down payment funds. None of the incentives and kickbacks were disclosed to the mortgage lenders.

Harrison and Allard allegedly recruited buyers and found individuals to front down payment money for those buyers, while Rounds, a mortgage broker, brokered the loans for the transactions, recruited straw purchasers, and distributed kickbacks to buyers.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, and will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor and Assistant United States Attorney Vincent Chiu.

This brazen scheme could have had far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the individuals involved but also the stability of the housing market. If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count.