New Haven Attorney Involved in Mortgage Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison

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2013-05-05

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that David Kinney, 54, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Alfred V. Covello in Hartford to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for participating in a mortgage fraud scheme and for making false statements to federal law enforcement.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kinney, a New Haven-based attorney, participated in a mortgage fraud conspiracy in 2006 and 2007 by acting as the settlement agent in connection with fraudulent real estate transactions in New London County. As part of the scheme, Kinney submitted, or caused to be submitted, materially false HUD-1 settlement statements to lenders. In certain cases, Kinney released a disbursement check before he had received the down payment listed on the HUD-1.

On November 5, 2007, in connection with the investigation of this matter, FBI special agents served Kinney a subpoena at his New Haven office. On that date, Kinney told agents that he had never given anyone a closing check prior to receiving the down payment money in connection with real estate closings that he handled when, in fact, he had done so on multiple occasions.

As part of his sentence, Judge Covello ordered Kinney to pay restitution in the amount $507,155.24 and to forfeit $65,749.59.

On November 9, 2011, Kinney pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making a false statement.

source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation

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