Robert Huff, a deal maker, Carol Smith, a mortgage broker, and Gerald Sizemore, a buyer, were found guilty of mortgage fraud involving a newly constructed house in 2003 located at 35895 Sedge Circle, Solon, Ohio.

After a two-day trial, Robert Huff, 46, with residences in Solon and Strongsville, Ohio, was found guilty of two mortgage fraud related crimes—Theft by Deception and Securing a Writing by Deception—for his fraudulent conduct as a deal-maker. Huff faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Carol McGlothin, aka Carol Smith, 67, Aurora, Ohio, pled guilty to Theft by Deception, and faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, for her role as an unlicensed mortgage broker; she prepared a fraudulent loan application while working with Huff to close this deal. She was employed by Country Home Mortgage of Ohio, which is now out of business, and received $11,000 in "broker fees."

Deal-maker Huff brought Gerald Sizemore, 40, Sandusky, Ohio, into this deal as the buyer. Sizemore testified against Huff after he pled guilty to submitting a fraudulent loan application that was used to purchase this new house from a former Solon real estate developer, Edward Emery. For Emery's conduct in this case and numerous other similar cases, he was sentenced to 34 months in prison, and he testified against Huff. Also testifying against Huff was Shirley Rogers, 72, Independence, Ohio. She operated Regency Title agency and acted as the loan "closer" and escrow agent for this deal. She previously pled guilty to a number of felonies for her role in facilitating this and other fraudulent transactions.

Also participating in this scheme was James Sims, 59, Akron, Ohio, the owner of Country Home Mortgage of Ohio. He previously pled guilty to a felony in this case, and he testified against Huff. Sims was also found guilty in another Solon mortgage fraud case filed by Prosecutor Mason.

Finally, Robert Hawes, 33, Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty for his conduct in assisting Huff in this case. Dealmaker Huff used Hawes to assist him in providing a bogus down payment in order to close the loan. Hawes, who is presently awaiting sentence in federal court for drug trafficking, also testified against Huff. Sims will be sentenced on October 8, 2008. Rogers will be sentenced in October, 2008, but a date has not been set. Huff and Smith will be sentenced on October 29, 2008.