Law firm chief convicted in $13M loan-modification scheme, faces up to 70 years
A California attorney at the helm of a law firm accused of defrauding 3,261 homeowners of $13 million through a mortgage modification scheme has been criminally convicted by a federal jury in San Diego.
Dean Chandler, who served as president and CEO of 1st American Law Center, was convicted Thursday of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud, KGTV reports. He could get a maximum of 70 years when he is sentenced.
A co-defendant, Michael Eccles, who ran the firm’s call center, was convicted at the same time and could get as much as 60 years. Eleven other defendants, including the director of information technology and seven telemarketers, were previously convicted and sentenced.
An FBI press release from 2012 provides additional details.
Loan Safe and U-T San Diego also have stories.