ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- (March 30, 2007) – United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen (http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ak/index.html) announced today, March 30, 2007,that Bekim Hasipi, Robin Dorman and Jan Marquiss, residents of Anchorage, Alaska, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count each of wire fraud for making false statements in mortgage loan applications.

Hasipi, age 35, Dorman, age 31, and Marquiss, age 59, each pled guilty to one count before Chief United States District Court Judge John W. Sedwick.

In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler advised the court that each defendant had acted as a nominee borrower, taking out loans in their names for the benefit of another individual charged in the case while falsely claiming that the were seeking a mortgage loan for the purchase of a primary residence.

“Loan applications are legal documents signed under penalties of perjury," said IRS Supervisory Special Agent Terry Zeznock. "Though flipping properties is legal, submitting false written statements to a lender is not."

Judge Sedwick delayed the scheduling of a sentencing date pending the outcome of the charges against the remaining defendants. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendants. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service--Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of these defendants.

SOURCE: U.S. ATTORNEY DISTRICT OF ALASKA