Ten months after its inception, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez announced that his Mortgage Fraud Task Force continues to make progress.  Thirty arrests have been made in the last six months, bringing the total number of mortgage fraud-related arrests to 56.  New state legislation was adopted on July 1, 2008 - Florida Statute 193.133, requires law enforcement to notify the property appraiser's office when fraud has been detected and Florida Statute 817.545, mortgage fraud over $100,000 is now considered a second degree felony.  Task Force Chairman Glenn Theobald drafted and lobbied with other task force members for the new legislation.  They worked closely with the sponsors, State Senator Gwen Margolis and State Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera.

"One of the reasons this task force has been so successful is that it is a true public-private partnership.  We're taking a comprehensive approach to fighting mortgage fraud," said Mayor Alvarez.  "Even Tallahassee is taking notice.  The Governor's Florida Home Ownership Promotes the Economy (HOPE) Council and Mortgage Fraud Task Force is being created and modeled after Miami-Dade County's Mortgage Fraud Task Force." 

About the Mayor's Mortgage Fraud Task Force
The Mayor's Mortgage Fraud Task Force is chaired by Glenn Theobald, Chief Counsel of the Miami-Dade Police Department, and made up of law enforcement officials, prosecutors, business leaders, elected officials and other public servants.  Through their vision and direction the Task Force aims to help reduce and prevent mortgage fraud through law enforcement and prosecution, legislation and public education.  The Task Force was created in September 2007.

Mayor's Mortgage Fraud Task Force Partners
Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department, Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser's Office, Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts, Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Attorney's Office, IRS, FBI, Office of the Treasury, the Florida Attorney General's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Financial Services, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Coldwell Banker; Regions Bank; Florida Bankers Association; Florida Attorneys Title "The Fund;" Cohen, Fox; Coffey, Burlington; Abacus Lending; and National Title Insurance.    

(Photo by Ricardo Manuel Garcia)