The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida has returned an indictment charging Orange Park resident Brian Roy Lozito with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 12 counts of wire fraud.
If convicted, Lozito, 51, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count and payment of restitution to the victims he defrauded.
Lozito was arraigned Jan. 11. His trial is set for March 1, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
An indictment is a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
According to the indictment, Lozito owned and managed American Investigative Services LLC. The company purported to offer consumers mortgage auditing services in exchange for a fee.
Lozito and his conspirators solicited customers nationwide through mailings and telephone calls. In these solicitations, Lozito and AIS employees under his direction made false and fraudulent representations to consumers, including that AIS would perform “forensic audits” of mortgage documents to uncover evidence of deficiencies.
Lozito claimed AIS would obtain quitclaim deeds and other remedies, so the mortgage holders would be relieved of their mortgage debt and own their properties free and clear. If AIS could not help the consumer, Lozito promised to refund the money.
According to the indictment, AIS did not perform the services paid for by consumers and did not refund money to consumers. Money collected from consumers went to bank accounts controlled by Lozito and he spent the money.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Jacksonville Field Office and the Office of the Florida Attorney General – Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Frein.