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Three Sentenced for Bank Fraud of Government Housing Assistance Program
Greenville, South Carolina — Three South Carolinians have been sentenced for their roles in schemes that defrauded the federal government’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) of thousands of dollars.
Marvette Thompson Easterling, 54, of Gaffney, Keylon Wright, 40, of Simpsonville, and Joshua David Armato, 37, of Georgia, admitted to knowingly defrauding a program established to help homeowners at risk of mortgage loan default and foreclosure.
U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks ordered each defendant to a sentence of time served followed by five years of supervised release and the repayment of the stolen funds for the felony charges.
“Stealing from the federal government, particularly from programs that help the least fortunate in America, will not be tolerated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney M. Rhett DeHart. “Our office appreciates the investigative work of the Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP) and will continue to work with SIGTARP to protect American tax dollars.”
Special Inspector General Christy Goldsmith Romero added, “With today’s sentencing, SIGTARP and the United States Attorney’s Office have brought justice for defendants who defraud and steal from the Hardest Hit Fund, a federal program that helps unemployed homeowners stay in their home.”
Evidence presented in court showed that the defendants lied to obtain funds from SC Housing, a federally funded mortgage payment assistance program that provided eligible homeowners with temporary mortgage assistance so that they could avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.
The cases were investigated by the Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP) and Assistant United States Attorney Winston Marosek prosecuted the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marosek said the sentences were a result of the defendants’ efforts to deceive and steal from the government’s Hardest Hit Fund, which is designed to help homeowners stay in their homes.
The sentences serve as a warning to anyone considering similar crimes, as the government will continue to work to protect American tax dollars from fraud and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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