Cape Coral man gets 22 years for fraud

Originaly by PAT GILLESPIE: Ran $30 million real estate scheme

A man federal authorities believe spearheaded a $30 million real estate scheme based in Cape Coral was sentenced to 22 years in prison Tuesday.

Ronald Luczak, 38, who with his wife Lisa ran Cape Coral Equity and Development Group Inc., said nothing as he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John Steele. He pleaded guilty in September to one count each of wire fraud, money laundering and conducting a prohibited money transaction.

Luczak was the last of four defendants — one of whom was a Cape Coral police officer — to be sentenced in connection with the case, which started in 2005 and ended in 2006, when they were arrested.

Together, the couple created a scheme where they obtained more than $30 million in mortgages on 36 properties. They spent thousands on lavish birthday parties for their children, boats, jewelry and cars.

According to court documents:

• Through former Cape Coral police Officer Nelson Alex Gonzalo, they would find properties for sale by owners, mainly in southwest Cape Coral, on a canal.

• They would contract to purchase the property from homeowners and then obtain an appraisal for the property, with a market value about $150,000 higher than the original contract price.

• They would then draw up a new contract with an investor and secure a fraudulent loan, sometimes transferring money to investors’ bank accounts to boost their credit ratings.

• The investors would be qualified to obtain 100 percent financing through Sandra Mainardi, who worked at a mortgage brokerage company in New Jersey.

• The $150,000 would be disbursed as an “assignment fee,” which investors were told was going into an account for mortgage payments. The Luczaks spent much of the “assignment fees” on watches, a boat and travel.

• The Luczaks would have to find a subsequent investor to make payments on the previous investor’s loan after spending much of the money on personal items. The scheme victimized about 40 people.

One of the victims was Kathy Johnson of Cape Coral, who was a neighbor of, later worked for and invested with Luczak. She said her credit is now ruined and she and her husband have lost their house, her job, health insurance and retirement fund.
Through tears, she described the impact Luczak has had on her family, calling the convict “mean,” “abusive” and “controlling.”

“I just hope your two years of living like a rock star was worth it,” she said, looking at Luczak. She then turned toward Steele. “And I hope you give him the maximum.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Haas said Luczak contributed to Cape Coral’s foreclosure crisis and bank problems nationwide through his plan.

“He left a large wake of destruction that goes beyond the investors,” Haas told Steele. “There’s so many things that Ron Luczak did to so many people, it’s difficult to present to the court.”

Mainardi, another co-defendant, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in August and was sentenced June 9 to 46 months in prison. She, along with the Luczaks, will have to pay back $5,966,125.65 in restitution. Lisa Luczak was sentenced in April to the same terms. Gonzalo last year pleaded guilty to accessing the FBI’s National Crime Information Center as part of the scheme and was sentenced to 36 months on probation. The fifth co-defendant, Patricia Martin, was found dead in her Bonita Springs home in March 2007