Sentencing Set for Mortgage Fraud Theft Duo - Darien, IL Patch

Sentencing Set for Mortgage Fraud Theft Duo - Darien, IL Patch
Sentencing Set for Mortgage Fraud Theft Duo
Pamela Williams and Patricia Johnson each face between four and 15 years for theft convictions.
By Dan Campana | Email the author | April 28, 2011


0 Comments
View full size

Add your photos & videos
Share
Tweet
Email
Print
Start Following
Submit a tip
Tell Your Neighbors About Patch
Prosecutors expect to call 13 witnesses to testify at the upcoming sentencing of Pamela Williams and Patricia Johnson, who each pleaded guilty to theft in a scheme that involved the misuse of customer mortgage money.

During a brief Thursday hearing, Circuit Judge John Kinsella scheduled the sentencing hearing for May 26.

Just before a dual-jury trial was set to begin April 4, each woman pleaded guilty to a total of nine Class 1 felony theft charges of stealing more than $100,000—including one count of theft greater than $500,000 that does not allow for probation—and a single Class 3 felony theft count.

The guilty pleas did not come in a deal with prosecutors over sentencing, leaving each women to face between four and 15 years in prison and a requirement to serve at least half of that sentence.

Johnson has been in DuPage County Jail since October. Williams will surrender to authorities on the day of sentencing, her attorney said.

Prosecutors have said the women used a "float system" at PLM Title where they improperly tapped into an escrow account to pay personal and business expenses between November 2007 and April 2008. Prosecutors also suggested the scheme had gone on for some time prior to that time frame and had planned to call a forensic auditor to testify about the women's financial practices at PLM Title Company.