Four more Colorado residents were indicted this month on charges related to a mortgage fraud scheme, officials said.
The First Judicial District Grand Jury in Jefferson and Gilpin Counties on Sept. 16 returned an indictment charging Jose Alfredo Ramirez, Perla Alvarado, Ludibeth Salazar, and Lucina Loma with violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a class 2 felony, according to a statement from District Attorney Scott Storey.
The indictment alleges that loan officer Alvarado, Loma and Salazar fraudulently obtained loans for home buyers solicited by Ramirez. The three were employed by metro-area mortgage firms and engaged in the sale of residential property under the general supervision of Ramirez. He and his associates conducted their real estate business in leased office space at 710 Kipling St. in Lakewood, Colo.
The indictment alleges that it was the regular practice of Ramirez to solicit potential home buyers who, because of their citizenship or financial circumstances, were not qualified for FHA loans.
Alvarado, Loma and Salazar, as part of the enterprise, are accused of having prepared or obtained false documents showing that the buyers were legally in the United States and financially qualified for home loans.
Transactions in the indictment involve loans for 117 homes, totaling more than $20 million dollars.
The investigation that led to the indictments was conducted by the Gaming Unit of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The Gaming Unit began its investigation after receiving complaints from a Colorado casino that unknown persons had forged documents that stated that the home buyers were employed by the casino.
These four indictments bring the total indictments in this case to 11.
Warrants have been issued for the arrests of Ramirez, Alvarado, Loma and Salazar.
Send tips or a Letter to the Editor to jessica@inman.com or call (510) 658-9252, ext. 133.
