Fraudster conspired in a scheme that targeted distressed homeowners
Ex-Connecticut attorney Bradford Barneys has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring with fraudster Timothy Burke in a long-running scheme that targeted distressed homeowners, said Deirdre Daly, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Investigators found that from about 2011 to 2014, Barneys participated in dozens of meetings with Burke and with homeowners at the former’s law office in Bridgeport. Burke falsely guaranteed homeowners he would purchase their properties and presented to the homeowners quitclaim deeds, management agreements, indemnification agreements, and third-party authorizations.
Barneys later on knew that Burke had no intention of keeping the commitment – but he still continued to participate in the meetings and represented that the transactions were legitimate, a statement from Daly’s office said. “When questioned by homeowners about the status of their sales, Barneys would assure them that their sales to Burke or one of his companies were progressing as Burke promised. Barneys also knew that, once Burke obtained the properties from the homeowners, he would rent them out to tenants.” Barneys was paid over $72,000 for his participation in the scheme.
Last January, Burke pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion. He was sentenced last April to 108 months in jail.
Investigators also found that the Barneys engaged in separate fraud scheme similar to the one that Burke engineered. He assisted two individuals acquiring a commercial property located in Bridgeport, and then acted as a purported landlord for the property. The fraudster executed long-term lease agreements with at least two tenants, and collected tens of thousands of dollars of rent without the actual owners’ knowledge or authorization and kept the funds for his own use, said Daly’s office.
Barney’s law license was temporarily suspended last February after he plead guilty last to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire a fraud. District Judge Michael Shea ordered Barneys not to apply for reinstatement of his law license, and not to engage in any business related to real estate while he is on supervised release.
Related stories:
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Investigators found that from about 2011 to 2014, Barneys participated in dozens of meetings with Burke and with homeowners at the former’s law office in Bridgeport. Burke falsely guaranteed homeowners he would purchase their properties and presented to the homeowners quitclaim deeds, management agreements, indemnification agreements, and third-party authorizations.
Barneys later on knew that Burke had no intention of keeping the commitment – but he still continued to participate in the meetings and represented that the transactions were legitimate, a statement from Daly’s office said. “When questioned by homeowners about the status of their sales, Barneys would assure them that their sales to Burke or one of his companies were progressing as Burke promised. Barneys also knew that, once Burke obtained the properties from the homeowners, he would rent them out to tenants.” Barneys was paid over $72,000 for his participation in the scheme.
Last January, Burke pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion. He was sentenced last April to 108 months in jail.
Investigators also found that the Barneys engaged in separate fraud scheme similar to the one that Burke engineered. He assisted two individuals acquiring a commercial property located in Bridgeport, and then acted as a purported landlord for the property. The fraudster executed long-term lease agreements with at least two tenants, and collected tens of thousands of dollars of rent without the actual owners’ knowledge or authorization and kept the funds for his own use, said Daly’s office.
Barney’s law license was temporarily suspended last February after he plead guilty last to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire a fraud. District Judge Michael Shea ordered Barneys not to apply for reinstatement of his law license, and not to engage in any business related to real estate while he is on supervised release.
Related stories:
HUD suspends mortgage lender over false financial statements
Homesource owner pleads guilty to fraud charges
