13 charged in Cleveland mortgage fraud probe

CLEVELAND (AP) — A loan officer, three appraisers and nine other people have been indicted in Cleveland in a federal investigation of alleged mortgage fraud.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach says the fraud charges announced Thursday involve 28 properties in the Cleveland area and more than $3 million in mortgage loans.

The alleged ringleader was mortgage loan officer Kimberly Wilson of Shaker Heights. The government says she recruited people to buy homes appraised and purchased at inflated prices.

The defendants are charged with pocketing nearly $2 million lost by five mortgage companies.

The 13 are due in court May 18.