HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Dec. 2, 2010, 5:10PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7321503.html

Four members of a Houston mortgage brokerage as well as a Houston businessman were sentenced this week to prison for running a fraud scheme, federal officials said.

Anthony Wayne Hawkins, 50, of Houston, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Prosecutors said he helped organize the scheme from offices at Central Capital Financial Group in Houston.

United States District Judge Nancy F. Atlas also sentenced loan officers Brandon Crenshaw, 30, of Houston, and Nehemiah Douglas, 30, of Spring; loan processor Shirley Adger, 51, of Dallas, and business owner David Vasser, 61, of Houston.

Crenshaw and Douglas were convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They were sentenced to three and two years, respectively.

Adger and Vasser were convicted of several counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud . In addition, Vasser was also convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Adger was sentenced to five years in prison, while Vasser received more than seven years.

Prosecutors said the defendants misrepresented information on mortgage loan applications and supported them with other fraudulent documents.

Vasser was accused of applying for and receiving mortgage loans under false pretenses and allowing his trucking company, Rising Star Enterprises, to be used as an employer of straw borrowers on loan applications in exchange for money.

The scheme involved approximately 129 fraudulent property transactions that occurred between 2002 and 2006, officials said.