Grapevine man sentenced in mortgage fraud case

DALLAS — A Grapevine man was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison and ordered to pay almost $3 million in restitution Monday for being a member of a group of investors who bilked mortgage lenders and financial institutions out of about $14 million.

The scheme was operated by eight residents and involved 40 properties and more than 70 loans, according to federal authorities.

Donald L. Jones, 61, of Grapevine was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in July.

Jones had represented himself as an owner of Affordable Homebuilders and the YIN Group in Irving, according to federal authorities.

Robert Patterson Jr., 55, of Dallas, who also pleaded guilty in July to the same charge, was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution.

The defendants’ scheme used properties in Irving, Arlington, Sherman and Rowlett.

Others sentenced

In November 2007, Catherine L. Dike, 59, of Plano was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay almost $2 million in restitution. She pleaded guilty to false acknowledgment of appearance or oath in relation to closing documents.

On Sept. 15, Daniel J. Sattizahn, 29, of Plano was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay about $2 million in restitution. Sattizahn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in January.

Awaiting sentencing

On Nov. 17, Joseph B. Jackson Sr., 63, of Irving and Donald Matthew Jones, 35, of Maui, Hawaii, will be sentenced on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Foday S. Fofanah, 38, of Waxahachie is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 15, also for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

William Barnes, 59, of DeSoto, who owned BCT Landscape, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Oct. 23. A sentencing date is pending.