MIAMI, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors in Miami said three Florida residents defrauded more than 1,000 people in illegal land transactions worth about $10.6 million.
Prosecutors charged Daniel Stephen and Patricia DePons of Miami Shores, Fla., and Clotilde Jean of Miramar, Fla,, with targeting mostly members of the Miami-Dade Haitian community by representing themselves or the business First Loan Solutions as owners of vacant lots or by stealing money intended for escrow accounts, The Miami Herald reported Tuesday.
The indictment says First Loan Solutions solicited business through leaflets and radio advertising.
The company set up a title company to act as closing agent and issued fraudulent warranty deeds and other documents, the newspaper said.
The defendants were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, and face the possibility of 20-year sentences for each count.
