CaribWorldNews, PHOENIX, Arizona, Weds. Mar. 17, 2010: A Haitian national will spend the next 17 years of his life in prison and then face deportation for a mortgage-fraud case that resulted in more than $9 million in losses to Phoenix-area banks.
Mario G. Bernadel was sentenced yesterday less than a year after he was found guilty of 19 counts of mortgage and related fraud for a two-year scheme in which he bought 37 properties with fraudulent loan documents and received cash back at the closing.
Bernadel said convicted in September last year. The Justice Department said Tuesday he used the money to purchase several homes and luxury vehicles.
Seven others were also charged and pleaded guilty for their involvement with Bernadel in the mortgage fraud and will be sentenced in the next few months, the Justice Department said.
Bernadel, a green card holder, will be deported to his native Haiti after he completes his sentence.
…