A brazen scheme to defraud homeowners and buyers has landed a Collin County man in hot water. Marcus Brian Curry, 35, pleaded guilty to mail fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
According to information presented in court, from June 2006 to February 2014, Curry, the owner and operator of South Coast Group, L.P., a real estate company located in Allen, Texas, devised a scheme to defraud certain homeowners and buyers.
Curry solicited distressed homeowners through mail advertisements and convinced them they could protect their credit by transferring the title to their homes to him with the promise he would assume responsibility for making the mortgage payments. He would then sell the property to a new buyer representing that he was the true owner of the property, omitting that there was still an original lien holder, and in most cases, not paying the mortgage payments to the original lien holder as promised.
In order to conceal the existing lien from the buyer, Curry financed the mortgage himself and had the new buyer send payments to a private mail box under his control. As a result of his fraudulent actions, Curry caused a loss to homeowners, buyers, and lending institutions of approximately $2,362,350.
Curry faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason.
Curry’s scheme left a trail of financial devastation in its wake, with victims suffering losses totaling over $2.3 million. The investigation and prosecution of Curry’s case serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting consumers from predatory business practices.
As the investigation continues, it is clear that Curry’s actions will have consequences. His guilty plea is a significant step towards bringing closure to the victims of his scheme and holding him accountable for his crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Shawnta Rene Bell Jones, Mail Fraud, Texas 2013 · Texas
- Jason Jarin, Medicaid Fraud and Illicit Transition Procedures, Texas 2023 · Texas
- Stuart C. Cole, Mail and Wire Fraud, Georgia 2013 · Florida
- Marcus Deshawn Wright, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Texas 2023 · Louisiana
- Michael Scott Calhoun, Wire/Mail Fraud, OK, 2023 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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