A former escrow officer at a McAllen, Texas-based title insurance company has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for orchestrating a complex wire fraud scheme that defrauded homebuyers and mortgage lenders of more than $350,000, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
Mayela Saby Cantu, 55, pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
On Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Cantu to serve 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She must also pay $350,000 in restitution.
According to the DOJ, Cantu “knowingly participated in a scheme that used falsified lien payoff statements, fraudulent warranty deeds and deceptive emails to mislead lenders, title companies and property buyers.”
Federal prosecutors said Cantu used her position as an escrow officer to manipulate real estate closings between November 2020 and the time of her arrest. She was released on bond in March.
The scheme involved submitting falsified documents to lenders and title companies to misappropriate funds and misrepresent the legal status of properties being sold.
In one case, Cantu reportedly instructed others to create a fake email address that closely resembled that of a legitimate lienholder. She then used that email to transmit fraudulent payoff statements, leading a title company to mistakenly release more than $350,000.
Multiple fraudulent transactions
Authorities said Cantu facilitated additional fraudulent transactions, including closings on properties that had already been sold and by accepting undisclosed cash payments.
Prosecutors argued these deals were deliberately structured to hide key details from the parties involved, causing serious financial damage to buyers and lenders.
At the sentencing hearing, the victim of the scheme addressed the court, describing the personal and financial consequences of the fraud. The individual urged the court to impose a sentence that would deter others in similar positions of trust, the DOJ added.
Sentencing and investigation
Cantu has been permitted to remain on bond until she is assigned to a facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the McAllen Police Department and the Texas Department of Insurance led the investigation into the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Garcia prosecuted the matter.
The DOJ emphasized the seriousness of the offense.
“This sentence reflects the damage caused by those who abuse their trusted roles to commit financial fraud,” it stated. “Victims of real estate schemes suffer lasting consequences, and today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable.”
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