Law enforcement agents investigating Lori Milano, 42, the chief of code enforcement for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida confiscated three of her computers, all of her e-mails, several code enforcement files and her Day Minder calendars for this year and the past four years, according to a federal property receipt given to the city of Fort Lauderdale. Agents also planned to go after Milano's personal financial information, including her bank accounts, check registers, bank statements, credit card statements and other items, according to the document.
Milano was suspended with pay from her job as head of code enforcement five weeks ago after city officials said they were advised Milano was the target of a federal criminal investigation. She has not been charged with any crime. The city of Fort Lauderdale Office of Professional Standards has also launched an investigation to determine whether Milano violated any city rules.
Samantha Johnson, a licensed mortgage broker and Milano’s sister in law, was accused of executing “a scheme to defraud elderly and deceased victims by gaining control of their properties by conveying the properties to themselves or nominees" and using the properties to obtain loans. Samantha Johnson pleaded guilty conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return. Milano’s brother, Scott Johnson also plead guilty to filing a false tax return. The Johnsons are scheduled to be sentenced in July.


Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors.