Ronald E. Brown, Jr., 39, Kansas City, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain home loans, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker announced.

In his plea, Brown admitted that from Feb. 6, 2003, through January 2004, he conspired with co-defendant Wildor Washington, Jr., and others to obtain home loans by fraudulently submitting false information to lenders.

In his plea, Brown admitted the crimes occurred while he owned Brown Insurance Agency and worked as an insurance broker in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Brown admitted he knowingly provided conspirators with false proof of insurance documents that were submitted to lenders. He also accepted premium payments from property owners for policies he never provided to them.

In one case in 2003, Brown participated in the purchase of a house in the 11100 block of 78th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. The conspirators prepared false claims that B&L Custom Development, one of the companies in which Washington had an interest, had performed renovation work on the house. As a result, B&L received a check for $27,952 in payment for renovation work that had not been performed as claimed.

In another case in 2003, Brown participated in making false claims that B&L Custom Development did renovation work on a house in the 44000 block of Virginia, Kansas City, Missouri. As a result, B&L received a check for $29,500 in payment for renovation work that had not been performed as claimed.

Wildor Washington Jr. is set for jury trial March 3, 2009.

Brown is set for sentencing Jan. 27, 2009. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge; and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud charge. Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, the US Secret Service and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department worked on the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker is prosecuting.