A Tampa Realtor who allegedly tried to stop Fannie Mae from foreclosing on a property so that he could sell it himself has been charged with bankruptcy fraud and falsification of records in a bankruptcy proceeding, according to a report by the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida.
David Lyle Morgan, 53, allegedly filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in a homeowner’s name without their knowledge right before a scheduled foreclosure sale, preventing Fannie Mae from conducting a foreclosure sale and obtaining the title to the property.
Then Morgan allegedly kept trying to sell the property and earn, as the U.S. attorney put it, “illegal real estate commissions.” He had entered a contract with the homeowner to sell the property, according to the report.
Morgan is also accused of lying in the bankruptcy petition he filed, the U.S. attorney said.
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Maria Chapa Lopez unsealed the indictment against Morgan on Thursday. The Florida Realtor could face up to 30 years in federal prison.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Poor will prosecute the case.