Couple handed jail time for mortgage fraud

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A former bank president in Tampa, Fla., and his wife were handed prison sentences after pleading guilty to a $79 million bank fraud scheme.

Corey Brower, former president of GreatStone Mortgage, and his wife, Sandi, were handed sentences of five years, three months and three years, six months respectively, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Tuesday.

After serving time, the husband and wife were each ordered to complete three years probation and make restitution.

Court records say from 1999 to 2001, the couple created fraudulent mortgages to obtain funds to pay other fraudulent loans. In total, the fraud cost the Department of Housing and Urban Development $79 million, court records show.