Former Judge Pleads Guilty to Mortgage Fraud

TAMPA, FL—United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that Thomas E. Stringer (Tampa, Florida) today pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud before Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo. Stringer faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in federal prison. However, because it appears that no one sustained a loss from the commission of the crime, the relevant sentencing guidelines contemplate the imposition of a non-custodial sentence. United States intends to seek forfeiture of $222,362.00, the amount of the proceeds from the fraud. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to court documents, Stringer engaged in a scheme to defraud a bank that loaned him money to purchase a residence in Hawaii. Stringer falsified his mortgage application for the residence by claiming that he had borrowed none of the money he was using for the down payment, when in fact he had borrowed funds from a third party.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tampa Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert E. O'Neill and Anthony Porcelli.