Ramasir Sentenced in Real Estate Fraud Scheme
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York announced that Elviston Ramasir, the former president of Home Free Realty, Inc, was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment for committing real estate fraud schemes in New York. Ramasir pled guilty to stealing $1.5 million from an investor. In that scheme, Ramasir promised significant returns if the victim invested in properties, but Ramasir never purchased them. He told the investor that he had obtained 38 properties in Brooklyn and Queens; however, most of the properties did not exist or were owned by other individuals. Ramasir also created false documents and forged them to make the investor believe he had actually purchased the property. In reality, Ramasir had used the $1.5 million for his own personal use. Ramasir also pled guilty to another scheme in which he used Craigslist to solicit renters for properties he owned. The renters would provide him money, but Ramasir would not allow them to occupy the property. Ramasir was sentenced to 51 months in prison for the crimes, three years supervised release, and was ordered to pay over $1.4 million in restitution.
Today, defendants involved in white collar crimes are sentenced more harshly due to the increase in these types of cases. There are several different types of white collar crimes (i.e. mail fraud, wire fraud, real estate fraud, etc.) and the appropriate defenses often depend on the particular crime charged in the indictment and the amount of money involved. Sentencing will usually vary according to the amount of money at issue, the number of victims that have been harmed from the fradulent conduct, and the defendant's role in the illegal conduct. An experienced federal defense lawyer will be able to consider these factors and come to a accurate estimate of the penalties that the defendant could potentially face. As such, it is important to seek an attorney in both the pre-indictment and post-indictment stage so that they can advise you on the best approach to take in your case.
If you or someone you know needs a defense attorney, contact our office at 1-800-94-TRIAL for a free consultation.
