ALEXANDRIA, VA – A Florida man, Jose Manuel Santiago, was sentenced today to three years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud that spanned multiple states. Court documents revealed that Santiago, from Sarasota, initiated the fraudulent activities in February 2020, exploiting the onset of the pandemic lockdown to target unoccupied homes in Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and beyond.
Santiago, 43, along with accomplice Rosson Dwayne Hamilton, 40, managed to steal homeowners’ identities and sell their properties to unsuspecting buyers. The pair orchestrated a complex scheme involving high-quality false identifications used by recruits at property closings. These recruits, one of whom was Vernon Lavoie, 59, would impersonate the homeowners and forge signatures to facilitate the fraudulent sales.
The proceeds from these illicit transactions were funneled into bank accounts controlled by Santiago and Hamilton. They utilized the funds for personal gain, including sending money to various retailers, while recruits were compensated with cash or illegal drugs. Despite some transactions being reversed, the duo caused significant distress and loss, with one homeowner unable to reclaim their property and losing irreplaceable items, including military memorabilia.
Overall, the criminal activities led to the fraudulent sale and attempted sale of at least 10 properties, accruing over $581,808 and attempting to secure an additional $768,175. Santiago pleaded guilty on February 20. His co-conspirator Hamilton, who pleaded guilty on February 6, received a markedly lighter sentence of one day in prison. Lavoie, charged separately, pleaded guilty on July 28, 2021, and received a seven-month prison sentence.