Bloomfield Man Charged in $15 Million Mortgage Fraud Scam

A Bloomfield man was charged yesterday for his alleged role in a $15 million mortgage fraud scam that spanned five states and involved fraud, conspiracy and attempted murder, according to New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Willie W. Richardson, 64, of Bloomfield was one of 11 individuals arrested yesterday by special agents of the FBI and IRS–Criminal Investigation. 

Among the other local defendants were Dwayne K. Onque, 44, of Belleville, who surrendered to authorities on Wednesday morning as well as Larry L. Fullenwider, 61, of Millburn. Timothy D. Ricks, 44, of East Orange and Orlando Allen, 47, of Fayetteville, Georgia were also expected to surrender to federal authorities on Wednesday. Kinard J. Henson, 40, of Ventress, Ala., was already in federal custody in Alabama, according to a statement by the FBI.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, Henson is charged with attempted murder for recruiting another individual to kill a straw buyer who was a witness to the mortgage fraud scheme.  The FBI report states that the straw buyer was lured into a wooded area in Mobile, Alabama and, at Henson’s direction and using Henson’s firearm, shot multiple times by the individual. The victim survived. 

“According to the indictment, these defendants created false documents and used straw buyers to convince lenders to give them $15 million for properties that were worth far less,” said U.S. Attorney Fishman in the statement. “Members of the scheme were willing to launder money – and even to kill – in order to get their hands on the profits and cover their tracks. This case illustrates not only the seriousness of mortgage fraud, but also our focus on eliminating the criminal element from our markets to protect the health of our wider economy.”

The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The attempted murder of a witness charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The other individuals charged for their alleged roles in the mortgage fraud scam are Sean A. Souels, 42, of Philadelphia; Nancy E. Wolf-Fels, 55, of Toms River; Deborah L. Hanson, 49, of Voorhees; Seth A. Fuscellaro, 39, of Wildwood Crest, and Angela L. Celli, 41, of Somerset, Mass.