On Aug. 11, a third individual indicted late last year pleaded guilty to two mortgage fraud schemes in which he prepared false loan applications and illegally rerouted $1.27 million in loan proceeds. Charles M. Davis was among six people indicted in November who combined were involved in three conspiracies. Two of those individuals - Scott Allen Kassebaum and Cheryl Kassebaum - pleaded guilty earlier this summer. Shanda Lynn Moore, Steven Ray Spencer and Randall Lee Hall have all pleaded not guilty.
In one scheme, Davis admitted to preparing and submitting false loan applications to lenders and routing the proceeds through Master Marketing Consultants, according to the plea agreement. He then returned a significant portion of the proceeds to the borrowers without the lender's knowledge after the loan closed. The applications overstated income, understated or omitted liabilities and falsely indicated that the borrowers would reside in the homes being purchased. Davis' role in a second conspiracy was to facilitate the return of loan proceeds obtained from America's Wholesale Lender to borrowers. He was responsible for transmitting the proceeds electronically and depositing them into a bank account. The readily provable economic loss attributable to Davis is between $1 million and $2.5 million, according to the plea agreement. Davis could face prison time, fines and restitution on charges of conspiring against the U.S., wire fraud and spending proceeds obtained through wire fraud. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas C. Bunch.
Trade in the Tri-Lakes
Trade in the Tri-Lakes is the theme of the Branson Area Business Expo 2009 as the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce promotes doing business with community neighbors during challenging economic times. More than 40 member businesses will showcase their services 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center. Ozarks Technical Community College's Center for Workforce Development will offer a workshop on effective business practices at 2 p.m. The expo is free and open to the public. Springfield Business Journal is among the sponsors. For more information, visit www.bransonchamber.com.
Digital Dirt Warning
Experts at OTC's Career Employment Services Center are warning jobseekers to be cautious with the content they post to social-networking sites. Job hunters who have a tendency to use Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to post questionable or risqué personal information, photos and messages - what OTC Career Employment Services Director Kathy Christy calls "digital dirt" - could end up being turned down for a position based on what an employer discovers online. "If you have any digital dirt, get rid of it," Christy said. She notes, however, that such sites can be used to the job seeker's advantage and offers these tips: update your online professional profile on a regular basis; be aware of how you will be perceived by businesspeople in your online social network; post content relevant to your job search with a description of who you are and what you do; don't post controversial content on your profile that would damage your reputation; and don't mention your job search if you're still employed.
Taking shape on 3.5 acres just east of State Highway H/Glenstone Avenue in the area of Valley Water Mill Park are the Fulbright Heights Apartments – three 23,000-square-foot buildings with 24 units each for a total of 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
