David Lyle Morgan (53, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Morgan was a licensed realtor who entered into a contract with a homeowner to sell a property in foreclosure. In order to prevent the Federal National Mortgage Association (commonly known as Fannie Mae) from lawfully foreclosing on the homeowner’s property, Morgan devised and executed a bankruptcy fraud scheme wherein he filed a fraudulent bankruptcy petition in the name of the homeowner, without the homeowner’s knowledge or consent, just prior to the scheduled foreclosure sale date. The fraudulent bankruptcy invoked the automatic stay provision of the bankruptcy code, which prevented Fannie Mae from conducting the foreclosure sale and obtaining title to the property.

The fraudulent bankruptcy petition filed by Morgan allowed him to continue efforts to sell the property in order to obtain ill-gotten real estate commissions.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.