3rd lawyer is federally indicted, accused of aiding developer in claimed real estate loan fraud
A third lawyer was federally indicted last week for allegedly aiding Arkansas real estate developer Brandon Barber in a claimed series of schemes in which Barber is accused of obtaining $200 million in loans, diverting some of the money to participants at closing and then hiding his assets in a 2009 bankruptcy filing.
Attorney David Fisher of Rogers, Ark., pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court in Fayetteville to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, KFSM reports.
An Arkansas Business article provides further details and links to a copy of the superseding indictment (PDF).
It previously charged Barber with fraud and money laundering.
Another Arkansas lawyer, K. Vaughn Knight of Fayetteville, was indicted earlier as a co-defendant in a claimed fraud involving Barber and pleaded not guilty in April.
The Mortgage Fraud Blog has a story about the initial indictments. It notes that a New York lawyer, James Van Doren, was also among the defendants accused in the case.
A March press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Arkansas has more information.
Update: David Fisher was found not guilty on Oct. 23, 2013, according to KFSM. Updated on Oct. 24.
