LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Two Las Vegas men have been indicted on charges of mortgage lending fraud, according to the Nevada Attorney General's Office
On Aug. 15 a Clark County grand jury returned an 18 count indictment against Gary Dimattia, 62 and Lawrence Bateman, Jr., 36, for their involvement in a mortgage lending fraud case operating under the name Financial Link Services. According to Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, the case involves numerous victims.
According to the attorney general's office, Dimattia and Bateman made false representations that they were capable of rescuing homeowners who were looking to refinance their mortgages by negotiating new loans through a balance reduction program that did not exist. From April 2009 to April 2010 they collected an up-front fee, in most cases ranging from $3,495 to $3,895, for the proposed service but the work was never performed, according to the attorney general's office. The indictment includes seven currently identified witnesses.
"Mortgage and foreclosure rescue scams continue to be a big threat to Nevadans," said Masto. "I encourage potential fraud victims of Financial Link Services and others in similar cases to report it to our office so we can investigate and prosecute."
Dimattia is charged with for four felony counts of mortgage lending fraud, four felonies counts of theft, one felony count of multiple transactions involving fraud and deceit in the course of enterprise or occupation, and one felony count of pattern of mortgage lending fraud indictment.
Bateman is charged with for three felony counts of mortgage lending fraud, three felonies counts of theft, one felony count of multiple transactions involving fraud and deceit in the course of enterprise or occupation, and one felony count of pattern of mortgage lending fraud indictment.
Both Dimattia and Bateman face a 20 year prison sentence. They are scheduled to be in court Sept. 6 at 9 a.m.
Anyone with additional information regarding Dimattia, Bateman or Financial Link Services, is urged to contact the Attorney General's Office Bureau of Consumer Protection Hotline at (702)-486-3132. When calling press "9" to receive instructions on how to submit a complaint.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
