Wayne Marlon Benedic Lezama, 44, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to five years in prison and ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain over $4 million with 14 mortgage loans in the Tidewater, Virginia area.

According to court documents, Lezama participated in a scheme from August 2005 until January 2007 to obtain mortgage financing to purchase homes throughout southeastern Virginia, including real estate in the cities of Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, Virginia. The property would be purchased in the name of Lezama or a nominee buyer. During the course of the scheme over $4 million in financing was obtained through fraudulent means, including submitting false financial information regarding down payments, monthly income and liquid assets.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Lezama was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr. Lezama previously pled guilty on November 23, 2009.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Seidel, Jr. prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.