Charles H Evans, Jr, 57, of Jackson, was sentenced today to serve 20 years in prison for his role in one of the largest commercial mortgage fraud crimes in the history of the State of Mississippi, announced United States Attorney John Dowdy and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen. His brother and co-conspirator, Jon Christopher Evans, 53, also of Jackson, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. A forfeiture order was entered by United States District Judge Daniel P Jordan III against the defendants in the amount of $18,594,221.58. The judge ordered that the restitution amount owed by the defendants would be determined at a later date.
On December 22, 2010, the defendants pled guilty to a two-count criminal Information charging them with money laundering conspiracy and federal bank fraud.
Conspiracy to commit money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The federal bank fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Charles H Evans, Jr is an attorney who operated The Evans Firm in Jackson, and was an approved attorney for Mississippi Valley Title Company (“MVT”), authorized to provide title opinions and prepare certificates of title for MVT, which MVT used and relied upon in order to issue title insurance policies to banks making loans for the purchase of real estate. His brother and codefendant, Jon Christopher Evans, is also an attorney in Jackson who served as the registered agent for numerous shell companies in the Jackson area, which were owned, operated, and controlled by the defendants and used to perpetuate their fraudulent scheme.
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