Mississippi Criminal and Family Law BlogWednesday February 28, 2023, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced that a Michigan real estate investor has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $3 million in a wire and bankruptcy fraud scheme, The investor, Sean Phillip Tissue, was charged in October of 2022. Tissue was the owner of numerous companies including: The Centureon Companies, Greystone Home Builders, Sycamore Homes, Lenovo Homes, NROL Holdings, Phillip Ryan, Boardwalk Heights B2R and NROL Property and Investment.
According to the information unsealed at his guilty plea hearing, Tissue engaged in a real estate investment fraud scheme from 2015 to 2021. During the 6 year period, Tissue made or caused others to make false and fraudulent representations to induce potential investors from Israel, India, South Africa, and other countries. He convinced them to invest in real estate in Michigan, Texas, and other locations. Tissue also cause various false documents to be provided to investors, including fake deeds, fake wiring instructions, fake bank statements, fake leases, and fake inspection reports. He also provided a fake name to investors, “Sean Ryan”. Through this scheme, he made over $3 million.
Tissue is looking at a sentence of statutory maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and 5 years in prison for bankruptcy fraud. “Sean Tissue orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud individual investors. He tried to avoid repaying those investors by declaring bankruptcy, and his lies and deceits continued in the bankruptcy proceeding,” Ison said in a statement.
“This guilty plea is an important step towards holding Mr. Tissue accountable for his actions and reflects my office’s commitment to prosecuting financial crime and protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system.”
“This defendant defrauded his real estate clients and then attempted to escape the consequences by declaring bankruptcy. His actions not only harmed individual clients, but also impacted potential investments in the City of Detroit,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division. “The FBI will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Bankruptcy Trustee to ensure the public’s continued trust in the bankruptcy process and to hold accountable those who would use our bankruptcy courts as a means of committing fraud.” The investigation of this case was conducted by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig A. Weier and Special Assistant United States Attorney Richard Roble.
Wire Fraud in Mississippi
In Mississippi, not less than 2 weeks ago, a couple who goes by the names of Jay and Gigi Sinyard, were charged with one count of wire fraud. According to the charging document, the Sinyards operated a company called VetAttend in Jackson, MS where they purported to seve Veterans in the community through home aid and assistance. The Sinyards submitted, and caused to be submitted, fraudulent affidavits for home aid services provided, when they knew that those services were not actually provided. These fraudulent affidavits were submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through the Eastern District of Louisiana.
As a result of these false affidavits, spanning over the course of almost 6 years from August 2014 to December 2020, the VA issued funds to over 70 veterans and/or their surviving spouses from whom VetAttend of Jackson appropriated approximately $2,136,329.68 in funds relating to false affidavits of services provided. Similar to Tissue, the Sinyards are looking at facing a possible maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.
Finding an Attorney
Have you been a victim of fraud or charged with wire fraud in Mississippi? Look no further than Vic Carmody Jr., P.A. Over the years, we have helped numerous offenders pursue favorable outcomes. Although being accused of a crime is not a pleasant experience, there are many potential defense strategies that can be used to defend and reduce the charges against an offender. Call/contact us today for your free consultation to learn more.
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