A federal jury has convicted Nathaniel Anderson, former Mayor and current town councilman of Willingboro Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, and his business associate Chrisone D. Anderson of Sicklerville, New Jersey, on charges related to mortgage fraud stemming from a fraudulent short sale of real estate.
The verdict was delivered after about two-and-a-half hours of deliberation following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court. Both individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial and documents filed in the case, between March 2015 and June 2017, Nathaniel Anderson and Chrisone D. Anderson conspired to carry out a fraudulent short sale involving a property in Willingboro. The scheme aimed to have a government-sponsored enterprise discharge Nathaniel Anderson’s mortgage obligation and persuade a lender to issue a new mortgage based on false information.
As part of this plan, Chrisone D. Anderson submitted mortgage documents containing false statements. These included misrepresentations that the transaction was conducted at arm’s length, that there was no prior business relationship between the two parties, that Nathaniel Anderson would not continue living at the property after the sale, and that Chrisone D. Anderson would use it as her primary residence.
The fraudulent activity resulted in over $200,000 in losses when the government-sponsored enterprise discharged the original mortgage and the victim lender issued a new loan for the property.
Both defendants were found guilty of one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, bank fraud, and two counts of making false statements on a mortgage application. Each charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines. Sentencing is set for June 1, 2026 before Judge Kirsch.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents from the FBI’s Newark Division (Trenton Resident Agency) under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy and agents from the Northeast Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General under Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak for their roles in investigating this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane (Special Prosecutions Division) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly (Chief of Cybercrime Unit) are prosecuting on behalf of the government.
Defense counsel includes Troy Archie representing Chrisone D. Anderson; Andrea Aldana and Adalgiza Nunez represent Nathaniel Anderson.
