Oak Grove couple charged with four counts of mail fraud

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: August 11, 2008 - 2:29 PM

An Oak Grove couple who allegedly devised a scheme to defraud and collect $690,000 from four mortgage lending companies was charged Aug. 4 with four counts of mail fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to an indictment, Michelle M. Niska, 41, and Robert G. Bock, 40, knowingly and intentionally executed the scheme from May 2005 through March 2007.

The couple purchased a home in May 2005 for $560,000, and four months later refinanced the home for $593,750 with Bravo Credit Corp. In April 2006, Niska allegedly filed a fraudulent satisfaction of mortgage form with the Anoka County Recorder's Office stating that the Bravo loan had been paid off. In May 2006, the couple sold the home for $675,000. The buyer borrowed $540,000 and got a $135,000 fraudulent "gift of equity" from the couple, the indictment said.

At the closing, the couple induced the title company to pay them $510,000 instead of paying the money to Bravo. The couple also kept possession of the house, the indictment said.

The buyer was then forced to obtain loans and allowed the couple to obtain an additional $15,296. In total, the couple misappropriated about $690,000 in lender funds from the four lending agencies, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A court date has not been set.

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