The owner of a Brooklyn-based credit counseling business has been indicted for defrauding clients.
Marat Lerner, president of the mortgage loan modification business Lerner Group, was indicted Jan. 18 in federal court in Brooklyn with an eight-count indictment charging him with “conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal from clients,” a news release said. Lerner, 40, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
“The defendant preyed on immigrants burdened by mortgage debt in the Russian community in Brooklyn, stealing their American dream through a scheme built on false promises to help them keep their homes, but in truth, he took advantage of their trust to enrich himself,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in the release. “This office has prioritized protecting vulnerable members of our district and we encourage them to come forward and put their trust in us to seek justice for them.”
Lerner and others operated the Lerner Group from August 2016 and January 2021, promising to help clients reduce their monthly mortgage payments and outstanding mortgage balances, the release said. Lerner misappropriated at least $550,000 from his clients by using a fictitious escrow agent called Testoni & Villa, from which he deposited checks in an account he controlled. He used the money for luxury goods, expensive meals and an BMW automobile.
“The defendant, as we allege today, funded his own lavish lifestyle by operating a lengthy scam exploiting his victims' trust and fears in order to steal their money rather than fulfill his promise to modify their mortgages,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll said in the release. “The FBI will continue to make sure any individual willing to cheat and deceive clients out of their hard-earned money will face the consequences in the criminal justice system.”
Lerner’s victims can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit at www.iC3.gov.
