Jupiter man, 3 Broward residents admit to mortgage fraud

By Palm Beach Business.com

FORT LAUDERDALE — A Palm Beach County man and three Broward residents have pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges related to a $2.5 million mortgage fraud scheme involving homes throughout the two counties.

John Fisher, 35, of Jupiter,  pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. Also pleading guilty were Tracey Balli, 35, of Pembroke Pines,  Justina Bryan, 35, of Hollywood and Delano McLennon, 33, of North Lauderdale each pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements on real estate settlement forms.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 19 before federal Judge Ursula Ungaro.

According to court records, the four defendants and other conspirators engaged bought and sold homes in Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Cape Coral, and Royal Palm Beach using straw buyers who obtained high value mortgages based upon fraudulent mortgage loan applications.

A co-conspirator orchestrated the scheme, in which defendant John Fisher, a licensed mortgage broker, Tracey Balli and Justina Bryan, both loan processors, joined. Balli and Bryan, along with other conspirators, recruited straw buyers, including McLennon, to join the scheme.

The schemers took banks for $2.5 million using the false documents.