Garrett County Attorney Accused of $1.7M Bank Fraud

BALTIMORE, MD – A Garrett County attorney is facing serious federal charges after being indicted in a multi-million dollar bank fraud scheme. Angela M. Blythe, 51, of Oakland, Maryland, was named in a four-count indictment returned December 16, 2014, and unsealed today, alleging conspiracy, bank fraud, and making false statements to a bank.

The indictment, announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt, paints a picture of a calculated effort to deceive financial institutions. Blythe, licensed to practice law in both Maryland and West Virginia, allegedly used her position as a settlement attorney to facilitate the scheme alongside Samuel R. VanSickle. The pair reportedly created fraudulent deeds, mortgages, and notes under false identities, then filed them with Garrett County, Maryland and Preston County, West Virginia land records.

According to the indictment, Blythe didn’t just create the paperwork; she actively concealed VanSickle’s true ownership of the properties. She allegedly conducted property settlements where VanSickle acted as buyer, seller, *and* borrower, all under the guise of these fabricated identities, effectively blinding lenders to the reality of the transactions. The scheme involved Blythe failing to properly execute settlement transactions as stated on official documents and diverting seller proceeds as directed by VanSickle – a clear indication of intent to defraud.

Federal prosecutors aren’t just seeking prison time. The indictment also targets the ill-gotten gains of the operation, seeking forfeiture of a staggering $1,725,000, which they claim represents the proceeds of the bank fraud. If convicted, Blythe faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for both the conspiracy and bank fraud charges, and an additional 30 years for each of the two counts of making false statements to a bank. No initial appearance date has been set as of this report.

This isn’t an isolated case. Samuel R. VanSickle, also known under the aliases “Donald Blunt,” “Jacob Aiken,” “Allen Helms,” “Paul Walsh,” and “William Hall, Attorney,” 50, of Accident, Maryland, and Louis W. Strosnider, III, were previously indicted on similar conspiracy and bank fraud charges. VanSickle is scheduled for trial on March 16, 2015. Strosnider, however, took a plea deal, admitting guilt to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on August 7, 2014, and is slated for sentencing on April 9, 2015. This suggests a wider network may be involved.

It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not a conviction. Blythe, like all defendants in the American justice system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant United States Attorney Joyce K. McDonald is handling the prosecution, and Rosenstein praised the FBI’s investigative work. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the raw truth from the Maryland federal courts.