Guyana National Sentenced to 262 Months in Prison for Leading Extensive Mortgage Fraud Scheme in Florida
Miami, Florida - A 56-year-old citizen of Guyana, Ravindranauth “Ravi” Roopnarine, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for his role in an extensive mortgage fraud scheme involving over 150 residential properties in Indian River, Miami-Dade, and Orlando-Orange Counties.
Charges and Conviction
Roopnarine was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, among other offenses, in an indictment filed in early 2015. He returned to the Southern District of Florida from Trinidad and Tobago to face trial after waiving extradition. In March 2016, a jury convicted Roopnarine on all counts.
Role in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
According to the court documents and statements made in court, Roopnarine conspired with Gergawattie “Kamla” Seecharan, her husband Deo Seecharan, and Linda Rovetto, to recruit mainly Guyanese residents to act as straw buyers on fraudulent mortgage loan applications. The scheme involved approximately 80 individuals purchasing properties in Vero Lake Estates (VLE), and other developments, resulting in approximately $50 million in fraudulent mortgage loans.
Roopnarine and Kamla Seecharan also unlawfully diverted over $3.5 million from real estate closing escrow accounts to Raviworld New Homes, Inc., a company managed by Ravi and Deo Seecharan.
Sentencing and Restitution
After the trial, U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Roopnarine to 262 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $9,041,133.46 in restitution to the defrauded lenders and banks.
Co-Defendants’ Sentencing
Kamla Seecharan pled guilty to her part in the conspiracy involving over $50 million in fraudulent mortgage loan funds and was sentenced to 121 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,040,343.14. Her husband Deo Seecharan and Rovetto both pled guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud involving $3.5 million in diverted real estate escrow funds. Kamla Seecharan was sentenced to 121 months in prison, while Deo Seecharan and Rovetto received sentences of 60 months and 42 months in prison, respectively.
Investigative Assistance and Prosecution
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Cooperstein and James V. Hayes prosecuted the case with valuable contributions from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Bureau of Finance, West Palm Beach Regional Office, and the United States Marshals Service in their assistance with the extradition and return of Roopnarine to Florida from Trinidad & Tobago.
Related court documents and additional information about this case can be accessed on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website or on pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.