Nathaniel Anderson, a town councilman and former mayor of Willingboro in Burlington County, New Jersey, was sentenced on June 1 to prison for committing mortgage fraud related to a fraudulent short sale of real estate. His business associate Chrisone Anderson received eight months’ home confinement for her involvement in the scheme, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Nathaniel Anderson, 59, and Chrisone Anderson, 58, were previously convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, bank fraud, and making false statements on a mortgage application. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Kirsch sentenced Nathaniel Anderson to 12 months and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Chrisone Anderson was sentenced to eight months’ home confinement with three years of supervised release. Both were ordered to pay restitution totaling $221,986.71.
According to court documents and trial evidence, from March 2015 through June 2017 Nathaniel Anderson and Chrisone Anderson conspired to orchestrate a fraudulent short sale of property in Willingboro from Nathaniel Anderson to Chrisone Anderson. The conspiracy involved submitting mortgage documents with materially false representations: that the transaction was arm’s length; that there was no prior business relationship between them; that Nathaniel Anderson would not continue living at the property after the sale; and that Chrisone Anderson would occupy it as her primary residence.
As a result of these actions, a government-sponsored enterprise discharged Nathaniel Anderson’s mortgage obligation—causing losses exceeding $200,000—and the victim lender issued a new mortgage on the property.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents from the FBI Newark Division Trenton Resident Agency under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and special agents from the Northeast Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General under Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, with investigating this case leading up to charges being filed.
The Justice Department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement with over 115,000 employees operating across more than 50 countries worldwide under Attorney General Merrick Garland’s leadership since March 2021; its mission includes upholding rule of law and safeguarding civil rights, according to its official website.