Three Rio Grande Valley men are behind bars, facing federal charges in a brazen mortgage fraud scheme that ripped off vulnerable homebuyers across South Texas. Guadalupe Artemio Gomez, 31, Luis Antonio Rodriguez, 36, and Rogelio Ramos Jr., 36, were named in a criminal complaint filed under seal on January 12, 2017, and charged with wire fraud for allegedly running a fake ‘second chance’ financing operation that promised homeownership but delivered only debt and deception.
The defendants operated under the names T.G. and Wealth, Infinite Properties, and Me In 3D, targeting individuals who couldn’t qualify for traditional loans. They dangled 8.5 percent interest rates on 20-year terms—contingent on a 10 percent down payment—knowing full well the deals were built on lies. These weren’t lenders. They were predators in suits, preying on dreams of stability in a region where opportunity often feels out of reach.
Authorities say the trio recruited realtors in the San Antonio area, feeding them falsified bank statements via email to make it appear Infinite Properties had millions in reserve. With forged documents in hand, the realtors sent desperate buyers straight into the trap. Victims signed purchase agreements believing closings were just 45 to 60 days away. But no closings ever happened. No homes changed hands. And the down payments—cash meant to build futures—vanished into thin air.
Gomez and Ramos were arrested the day after the complaint was filed and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya. Rodriguez, already locked up on unrelated charges, was transferred to federal custody when the case was unsealed. He appeared before Judge Peter Ormsby this morning and remains in custody, awaiting further proceedings. The wheels of justice are turning, but for the victims, the damage is already done.
Infinite Properties shut down in August 2016, leaving a trail of broken promises and empty pockets. The FBI, alongside police departments in McAllen, Mission, and Edinburg, spent months unraveling the scheme. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. is now leading the prosecution, determined to hold the defendants accountable for their calculated deceit.
If convicted, Gomez, Rodriguez, and Ramos each face up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. The case serves as a grim reminder: in the world of high-stakes finance, not every handshake is honest, and not every promise leads home. A criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt—but in this Valley con game, the paper trail speaks volumes.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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