Atlanta Woman Charged with Mortgage Fraud for Purchasing Luzerne County Properties

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that an Atlanta woman who allegedly used false and fraudulent employment information to obtain mortgages and purchase several properties in the Wilkes-Barre area was charged today with mail fraud as an aider and abettor in a criminal Information filed today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Carlson stated that Nancy Barlet, age 50, has signed a plea agreement that was filed along with the criminal Information. The plea agreement indicates that the amount of money involved in the fraudulent mortgage scheme was more than $400,000 and less than $1 million.

The Information alleges that Barlet, aiding and abetting others, purchased most of the properties in 2005 and 2006, using false employment information to qualify for the mortgages and operating under the name of Kima Enterprises. The Information alleges that Barlet obtained the mortgages from Washington Mutual, Wilshire, and Northern Source.

Barlet’s charge stems from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Carlson noted that Barlet faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, a term of supervised release of up to five years, and a $100 special assessment.

Carlson noted that Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.