St. Louis, MO – Deandrea Robinson, a St. Peters resident, has been convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft for his involvement in a real estate equity stripping scheme.
In a plea agreement, Robinson stole the identity of a homeowner to take control of the business entity that owned her home. He then borrowed against the homeowner’s equity in the home, resulting in a lender initiating foreclosure proceedings.
However, when the criminal investigation into the matter began, the lender agreed to halt the foreclosure, and the homeowner remains in her home.
Robinson, who has previously been prosecuted in the Eastern District of Missouri for real estate fraud, has been taken into custody after U.S. District Judge John Ross accepted his plea.
Robinson will serve a 2-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft and will be ordered to pay restitution to the lender he defrauded. Sentencing has been set for September 11, 2014.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with Tom Albus handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Robinson’s guilty plea marks a significant blow to those involved in real estate fraud schemes, and serves as a warning to others who may be considering similar crimes.
The case against Robinson highlights the need for increased vigilance and protections for homeowners, particularly in cases where individuals seek to exploit and manipulate others for financial gain.
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Related Federal Cases
- Keith JD Offord Indicted in $500K Identity Theft Scheme · Illinois
- Osage Beach Woman Accused of Mail Fraud & Identity Theft · Missouri
- Sutton’s Flop House Fueled KC Identity Theft Ring · Kansas
- Franklin County Trio Busted in ID Theft Ring · Washington
- Haben Sebhatu Sentenced in St. Louis ID Theft Ring · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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