A former Florida appraiser was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after prosecutors said he submitted fraudulent appraisal reports that left more than $65 million in mortgages impaired or defective.
Armando Martinez, 51, of Plano, Texas, previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Martinez was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant III of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Federal prosecutors said Martinez had once held a Florida appraiser’s license, but that license had been revoked before the scheme.
Martinez Used Another Appraiser’s License Number
According to court documents, Martinez took over the identity and license number of a legitimate licensed appraiser after his own Florida appraiser’s license had been revoked.
He then claimed he had conducted onsite appraisals for dozens of properties in Florida. Those reports were submitted to financial institutions as part of mortgage loan applications.
The false appraisals helped make the loans appear supported by legitimate property valuations, even though prosecutors said the reports were fraudulent.
Other People Took Photos While He Completed the Reports
Prosecutors said Martinez did not personally conduct the onsite appraisal work he claimed to have performed.
Instead, he paid other people to visit the properties and take photos. Martinez then completed the appraisal reports himself and sent them to victim lenders.
The Justice Department said he continued submitting appraisals from his computer after fleeing the United States to the Dominican Republic.
Lenders Approved Loans Based on False Appraisals
Federal prosecutors said the fraudulent reports induced financial institutions to approve and fund mortgage loans. Martinez also received appraisal fees tied to the reports.
The government said the scheme left more than $65 million in mortgages impaired or defective. Those loans were either guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or purchased and guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Poor.
Borrowers Can Check the Appraiser Behind a Mortgage Report
For homebuyers and borrowers, the name and license number on an appraisal report should match a real, active appraiser. In Florida, consumers can check an appraiser’s license through the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation license search.
A borrower who receives an appraisal can compare the appraiser’s name, license number, inspection date, property photos, and stated onsite visit with the lender’s records.
Suspected appraisal fraud involving FHA-backed loans can be reported to the HUD Office of Inspector General. Fraud involving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Bank System can be reported to the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General.