Jarrod Williams, Mortgage Fraud and Drug Conspiracy, Texas, 2013

SHERMAN, Texas – Jarrod Williams, a 34-year-old from McKinney, has been locked up for over four years following his guilty plea in a cunning mortgage rescue and drug operation that spanned the Eastern District of Texas.

Williams, who copped to conspiracy charges on August 21, 2013, was today sentenced to 57 months behind bars by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone. The judge also ordered him to cough up over $1.4 million in restitution for his misdeeds.

According to the court’s unvarnished account, from 2007 to 2012, Williams, his brother Julius, and Charles Williams operated Applied Investment Strategies, Inc., posing as a foreclosure rescue service. They duped desperate homeowners, using their personal data to falsify military orders to banks, claiming relief under the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act. With the homes in their grip, they collected rent for AIS’ gain.

The scam played out across North Texas, affecting nearly 40 properties and even interfering with car repossessions. When at least one property was vacated, Charles Williams, Christopher Carter, and Sean Harrell turned it into a lucrative marijuana grow operation, housing close to 1,300 plants destined for distribution.

Charles Williams is serving 41-50 months, Christopher Carter 34 months, and Sean Harrell 38 months in federal lockup. Julius Williams, also from McKinney, faces up to five years at sentencing.

This sordid mess was unraveled by the FBI, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shamoil T. Shipchandler.