Sarasota Grifter Orjuela Gets Two Years for Mortgage Scam

TAMPA, FL – Freddy Orjuela, Sr., a 49-year-old Sarasota real estate professional, is trading Florida sunshine for federal concrete. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore yesterday handed down a two-year prison sentence to Orjuela for a calculated mortgage fraud that bilked lenders out of a substantial sum.

The jury delivered the guilty verdict on December 14, 2016, after a three-day trial laid bare Orjuela’s deception. He wasn’t just bending the truth; he was systematically falsifying a mortgage application to Century Bank, a federally insured institution. The scheme wasn’t about a small oversight, it was a deliberate attempt to inflate his financial standing.

Court documents detail how Orjuela knowingly and willfully misrepresented his income, downplayed his debts, and outright *lied* about a previous bankruptcy. He attempted to portray a financial picture that simply wasn’t true, all to secure a loan he wouldn’t have qualified for otherwise. This wasn’t a victimless crime; it destabilized the financial system and impacted the bank.

The financial fallout is significant. Judge Whittemore didn’t stop at imprisonment. Orjuela is also ordered to pay $960,020 in restitution to those harmed by his actions. Furthermore, the court entered a money judgment totaling $1,475,950 – essentially seizing the proceeds of his fraudulent activity.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation spearheaded the investigation, meticulously building a case against Orjuela. Assistant United States Attorneys Callan Albritton and Bob Mosakowski skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that left no room for doubt.

Orjuela’s case serves as a stark reminder that financial crimes, even seemingly ‘white collar’ offenses, carry serious consequences. Two years in federal prison and a hefty financial penalty should give pause to anyone considering manipulating the system for personal gain. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of financial malfeasance.