Agent Launders Drug Money Through Real Estate - Mortgage Fraud ...

Marco Manuel Luis, a real estate agent, pled guilty before the Honorable Irma E. Gonzalez, United States District Court Judge to counts 16 and 25 of an indictment, charging Luis with felony counts of conspiracy to launder money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1957 and 1956(h).

According to his guilty plea and the criminal complaint, Marco Manuel Luis admitted that he was the real estate agent who facilitated the purchase of the residence located at 15702 Circo Diegueno, Rancho Santa Fe, California, for co-defendants Joshua John Hester and Kelsey Wiedenhoefer, both of whom have previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing.

Marco Manuel Luis admitted that he engaged in monetary transactions through financial institutions, knowing that the transactions were derived from specified unlawful activities, namely bank fraud. He completed the loan application knowing that Joshua Hester was the true owner of that property, not Kelsey Wiedenhoefer, who appeared on the loan application. Luis also knew that the downpayment and mortgage payments would be made with funds dervied from the sale of drugs.

In addition, Marco Manuel Luis admitted that he intentionally misrepresented Kelsey Wiedenhoefer's income, her employment record, and the source of down payment and monthly payments for the residence. As a result of the fraudulent loan application facilitated by Marco Manuel Louis, the banks subsequently caused escrow payment and wire transfers for the purchase of the property.

As to Count 25 of the indictment, Marco Manuel Luis admitted to Judge Gonzalez that he was the real estate agent who facilitated the purchase of property in Palomar Mountain, California, for Joshua John Hester and Jay Hansen. Luis admitted that he knowingly prepared a fraudulent loan application in the name of Jay Hansen and misrepresented his income and employment records, and provided inaccurate verification of rent, as part of the submitted loan package. As a result of the false loan application, the banks subsequently caused escrow payment and wire transfers for the purchase of the property.

Marco Manuel Luis is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Gonzalez on July 16, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.

He faces up to 20 years in custody, three years of supervised release, $500,000 fine, and $200 special assessment. Co-defendants Joshua John Hester, Kelsey Wiedenhoefer, and Jay Jansen are scheduled for sentencing on May 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m., before Judge Gonzalez.

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the guilty plea.

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