SACRAMENTO — Another participant in a widespread 2007 Chico mortgage fraud scam was sentenced Friday in federal court to four years and nine months in prison.
Niche Savon Fortune, 39, of Chico, was sentenced for offering homebuyers kickbacks from builders and submitting false mortgage documents to lenders to obtain loans.
The day after the close of escrow, the homebuilder would write checks averaging $41,000 to Fortune's front company, Fortune Property Investments.
The conspirators would pay the buyers up to $29,000 of the kickbacks and divide the remainder among themselves.
Fortune's sister, Kesha Danine Fortune Haynie, 41, of Chico, was convicted of the same crimes Wednesday after a six-day jury trial.
Both defendants are in custody.
A restitution hearing will be held May 18.
The case is the product of a joint investigation by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Butte County District Attorney's Office.