Gregory Claude Brown was charged by a federal grand jury in West Palm Beach, Florida, with failing to timely file his federal income tax returns for the 2001 through 2005 tax years, and with income tax evasion with regard to his 1998, 1999, and 2001 through 2005 taxes.

Previously, on December 11, 2007, the same grand jury charged Brown and co-defendant Monica Martinez with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with applications for mortgages in South Florida. On February 12, 2008, the grand jury charged Brown with an additional count of mail fraud in connection with a mortgage application delivered to Countrywide Home Loans, and also charged co-defendant Wilfredo Martinez with conspiring with Brown and Monica Martinez to commit wire fraud and substantive wire fraud counts.

Specifically, the indictment charges that defendants Brown, Monica Martinez, and Wilfredo Martinez made false representations in mortgage loan applications and received mortgages based on the false information. The mortgaged properties listed in the Indictment include:

326 Kenilworth Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida;

186 Yale Circle, Lake Worth, Florida;

2409 Zeder Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida;

245 Fordham Drive, Lake Worth, Florida;

109 Paradise Harbor Drive, North Palm Beach, Florida;

4607 Arlette Court, Lake Worth, Florida; and

5585 Coconut Road, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants fraudulently obtained more than $1.6 million in loan funds from mortgage companies.

If convicted, Brown faces up to one year in prison on the failure to timely file federal income tax return counts, and up to five years on the tax evasion count. The conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.