Three Conspirators Convicted in $78 Million "Dream Home" Mortgage Fraud Scheme Defendants Spent Millions of Dollars of Investor Funds to Employ Chauffeurs and Maintain a Fleet of Luxury Cars

Travel in Luxury to the Super Bowl and All-Star Game; Pay Off Prior Investors as Part of a Ponzi Scheme; and Fund a Failed Investment Venture and Undisclosed Third Party Businesses

GREENBELT, MD—A federal jury convicted Michael Anthony Hickson, age 48, of Commack, New York; Isaac Jerome Smith, age 48, of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and Alvita Karen Gunn, age 33, of Hanover, Maryland today of fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with their participation in a massive mortgage fraud scheme which promised to pay off homeowners' mortgages on their "Dream Homes," but left them to fend for themselves. In addition to the above described convictions, Hickson, chief financial officer of Metro Dream Homes (MDH), was also convicted of making a false statement in a federal court proceeding.