Man gets 3 years in real estate fraud case

St. Louis man sentenced to 3 years in prison for defrauding lenders in real estate fraud case

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A St. Louis man has been has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for a real estate fraud scheme that defrauded lenders of more than $2 million.

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced 28-year-old Jerrick Hawkins, and ordered him to pay $2.4 million in restitution.

Prosecutors say that from 2007 through September 2011, Hawkins recruited people to apply for FHA loans and directed them to lie about job and income information. He received payment either from the borrowers or from third parties.

Hawkins pleaded guilty in January to bank fraud and false statement charges.