U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Western Field Office P.O. Box 241516 Los Angeles, CA 90024 (310) 268-4269
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
California Residents Sentenced
Douglas J. Carver, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Inspector General, Western Field Office, Los Angeles, CA, announced today that RAY E. TOMLINSON and PENNY D. LUBANKO were sentenced in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Carver advised the sentencing followed TOMLINSON’s and LUBANKO’s guilty pleas to charges of Bankruptcy Fraud, Equity Skimming, Conspiracy, False Use of a Social Security Number, and False Statement in a Bankruptcy. Carver stated that the charges resulted from a joint investigation conducted by his Phoenix, Arizona Resident Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, HUD OIG, and the SSA OIG. The investigation revealed that TOMLINSON and LUBANKO engineered and executed an Equity Skimming scheme involving hundreds of VA guaranteed, HUD insured and conventionally insured loans. Additionally, that TOMLINSON and LUBANKO filed bankruptcies involving fraudulent names and social security numbers in California, Arizona and Nevada in order to stall foreclosure on the subject properties and perpetuate their scheme. Carver noted that TOMLINSON was sentenced to a term of 30 months imprisonment followed by 36 months probation, and directed to pay a fine of $50,000. LUBANKO was sentenced to a term of 21 months imprisonment followed by 36 months probation, and directed to pay a fine of $40,000. Carver added that the court held both TOMLINSON and LUBANKO jointly and severally liable for the payment to the government of restitution totaling $1,366,279.94. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Wright, Central District of California, Los Angeles handled the prosecution of this matter.