Mortgage fraud sweep nets 26 in Cleveland area

June 17, 2010 at 4:49p.m.

CLEVELAND (AP) — A coast-to-coast crackdown on mortgage fraud has led to charges against 26 people in the Cleveland area.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach said today that nine people have pleaded guilty since March. Another 17 have been charged in federal court in Cleveland.

The charges involve properties in Lorain, Elyria, Cleveland and its suburbs.

Nationwide, the Justice Department says investigators have made nearly 500 arrests since March in the crackdown.