Robert C Thigpen and Erich J Haskell pled guilty to one count each of wire fraud. The defendants admitted to using their companies, Heritage Lending Group, a mortgage company, and Superior Home Builders, Inc., to defraud various home lenders by false and fraudulent representations.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the defendants fraudulently helped Vance Johnson to purchase properties in Richmond and Columbia counties in Georgia.

The defendants obtained HUD loans for Johnson's properties to allegedly make repairs, but those repairs were never completed. According to testimony, Thigpen and Haskell kept part of the money, paid some to Johnson and used some for down payments.

Johnson has filed for bankruptcy and defaulted on nearly $500,000 in mortgages. HUD funds valued at $206,000 were lost.

Testimony also alleged that William O Key, Jr., the closing attorney in these transactions was a participant in the scheme.

Key has also been charged with mortgage fraud for the property at 625 Wrights Avenue, Augusta, Georgia. That case is pending. The information alleges that Key and his co-conspirators obtained a funding check of over $43,000 for the sale of the property; however the defendant knew that the property had already been sold.

Thigpen and Haskell each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.