SACRAMENTO — A Chico woman was convicted by a federal court jury Wednesday of two counts of mail fraud in connection with the Chico mortgage fraud scheme that involving a number of Chico-area builders and financiers.
Kesha Danine Fortune Haynie, 41, was found guilty after a six-day trial before U.S District Judge Edward J. Garcia.
Haynie operated Empire Mortgage in Chico. According to testimony she originated fraudulent loan applications from April 2007 through December 2007.
Homebuyers were offered kickbacks from a builder in exchange for purchasing homes. Evidence showed Haynie submitted false documents to mortgage lenders in order to obtain loans. The day after the close of escrow, the homebuilder would write checks averaging $41,000.
Haynie and her co-conspirators would then pay the buyers up to $29,000 and divide the remainder among themselves.
Judge Garcia noted the evidence of defendant's guilt was "overwhelming" and that defendant was "in denial."
Haynie was taken into the custody and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Garcia July 6. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Butte County District Attorney's Office.

Haynie Kesha Furtune Fortune Kesha Haynie
Associated names:
Kesha Danine Fortune
Haynie Furtune
Kesha Danine Haynie
41
Chico, CA
Susanville, CA