Kartesz Sentencing Moved

A federal judge has postponed sentencing for former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz II, who pleaded guilty in March as part of a widespread mortgage-fraud scam in Erie. The sentencing date has been moved from July 23 to August 1 because the prosecutor was unavailable on the original date. Kartesz was part of a scheme in which he and others bought run-down houses and sold them at artificially inflated prices. Most of the buyers had low incomes and knew little about buying homes. The government claims the victims had losses exceeding $1 million. Kartesz faces up to 35 years in prison, but will likely receive a lesser sentence under federal guidelines, in large part because of his guilty plea. Five people, including Kartesz, have been charged in the case.