Rebecca Hauck, the alleged girlfriend and co-conspirator of mortgage fraud 'poster child' Matthew Cox, plead guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy and one count of bank fraud. Hauck faces a maximum of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge. In the plea agreement, the government stated that it will request a sentence at the low end of the guideline sentencing range. The plea agreement does not contain a statement of facts although another document was filed under seal a couple of weeks before entry of the plea agreement. Hauck is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2006.

Rebecca Hauck, who was indicted by federal authorities in Georgia on September 29, 2005, was arrested by federal authorities in Texas in March of 2006 where she was found living under a stolen identity. Cox was not found and remains a fugitive. “Matthew Cox must be found,” said James H. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “The public can help us with this endeavor. Anyone with information about Cox’s whereabouts can contact the Secret Service toll-free, 24 hours a day at 1-877-242-3375. Additional information about Cox can be found on the Secret Service’s

website, www.secretservice.gov. Cox is listed under the Most Wanted section.”

“This case involves significant losses to victim lenders in several states. Even worse, the scheme clouded property titles on numerous residences when the defendants stole homeowners’ identities and placed multiple loans on the houses” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. “We hope the public can help us locate Matthew Cox so that he too can be brought to justice.”

In connection with her arrest, Georgia authorities unsealed a 42-count indictment charging Cox and Hauck with conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, bank fraud, frauds and swindles, transportation of stolen property, money laundering and fraud with identification documents.

Cox and Hauck are alleged to have perpetrated a mortgage fraud scheme that spanned at least three states. The first portion of the scheme allegedly occurred in Tampa, Florida in 2003. Cox and Hauck then disappeared and showed up in Atlanta, Georgia where they are alleged to have again engaged in a mortgage fraud scheme and disappeared before being caught. Last year, Cox was almost caught in South Carolina but managed to elude authorities and disappear after allegedly obtaining over $1M in mortgage loans from his South Carolina operations. Prior to embarking on the alleged mortgage fraud spree, Cox is rumored to have written a 317-page novel entitled The Associates which details the fraud scheme in which he is alleged to have later engaged.

According to the indictment, between November 2003 through September 27, 2005 Cox and Hauck engaged in a complicated scheme to defraud mortgage lenders and obtain false identifications. They would set up contact information and histories in the names of stolen identities, including telephone numbers, apartments, employers, credit cards and bank accounts. According to authorities, Cox obtained a number of the stolen identities from homeless people by posing as a Red Cross worker taking a survey. Cox and Hauck then obtained possession of residential properties in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and elsewhere by using the stolen identities to either rent or promise to purchase the properties. Once they obtained possession, they would fraudulently cancel the liens securing outstanding mortgage loans against the properties and then, on occasion, file a fraudulent lien on the property in the name of a shell company. They would then obtain multiple mortgage from lenders on the same properties at the same time in the name of the stolen identities. Cox and Hauck would then have the closing attorneys pay the loan proceeds to the defendants in the names of stolen identities or to the shell companies. They would then deposit these checks in to bank accounts in the names of the stolen identities or shell companies. They are also accused of obtaining vehicle loans and credit cards in the names of stolen identities. The 63 page indictment contains detailed allegations of the scheme. Hauck's aliases include Theresa A. Knight, Donna Anne Martin, Michielle Vayomi Joseph, Michielle Robinson Joseph and Grace E. Hudson. Aliases used by Michael Cox include Maxwell Price, David R. Freeman, Gerald Scott Cugno, Michael S Shanahan, Michael J. Eckert, Gary L. Sullivan and David White.