Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Former McKean County landlord Frank Kartesz II will not be spending the holidays at a luxury hotel in Pittsburgh as he had hoped. Kartesz was sentenced in September of 2008 to three years and seven months in a federal prison in West Virginia for his part in a mortgage fraud scheme in Erie County, and is now at a Pittsburgh halfway house. He asked the court for a 72-hour furlough from December 16 to 18 so he could visit with family at the Omni William Penn Hotel. A judge denied the request. In the mortgage fraud scheme Kartesz and his co-conspirators bought rundown houses and sold them at inflated prices to people with low incomes who did not know a lot about buying homes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The former Bradford landlord who's in prison for his part in a mortgage fraud scheme has been banned from ever working in Pennsylvania's mortgage industry. The state Department of Banking filed "orders of prohibition" against 41-year-old Frank Kartesz II, meaning that he can't work with mortgages in any capacity whatsoever. Kartesz and his business partners bought run-down houses and sold them at inflated prices. They scammed the victims out of more than $1 million. Kartesz pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy and was sentenced in September to three-year and seven months in federal prison. He's is serving that sentence at the federal prison in Morgantown, W.Va.

A business partner of former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz has been sentenced to four years and five months in federal prison for his part in a scam that defrauded victims out of more $1 million. Thirty-five-year-old Gregory Finney was sentenced on fraud, conspiracy and money laundering charges. Finney, Kartesz and Robert Dodsworth bought run-down houses and sold them at inflated prices. Dodsworth is serving six years and Kartesz is serving three years for fraud and conspiracy.

Former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz II may be coming back to McKean County. Kartesz was sentenced Thursday to 3 years and 7 months in federal prison for his part in a mortgage-fraud scheme, and his lawyer is recommending that Kartesz be sent to FCI-McKean. Kartesz, who is originally from Smethport, is free on his own recognizance and will report to federal authorities at a later date. Kartesz and his business partners bought run-down houses and sold them at inflated prices. The government says the victims lost more than $1 million.

A former Bradford landlord has been sentenced to three years and seven months in federal prison for his role in a widespread Erie mortgage-fraud scheme. 39-year-old Frank Kartesz II was also fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to victims. Kartesz pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in March, and became the second person to receive prison time in the case. 60-year-old Robert Dodsworth was sentenced in March to six years and four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges. Three others also face charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Erie says Kartesz was part of a scheme in which he and others bought run-down houses and sold them at inflated prices. The government says the victims lost more than $1 million.

Another business partner of former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz has pleaded guilty in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme that cheated people out of more than $1 million. 35-year-old Greg Finney pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. Kartesz pleaded guilty to the same charges and is scheuduled for sentencing on September 18. 60-year-old Robert Dodsworth is serving a 6-year term in federal prison for his part in the scheme.

A federal judge has again postponed the sentencing of former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz II, who pleaded guilty in March to taking part in a widespread mortgage-fraud scam in Erie. The sentencing had been scheduled for this morning, but one of his lawyers had a scheduling conflict so the date has been moved to September 11. Kartesz was part of a scheme in which he and others bought rundown houses and sold them at inflated prices. Most of the buyers had low incomes and knew little about buying homes. The government said the victims lost more than $1 million. Kartesz faces up to 35 years in prison, but he will probably receive a lesser sentence because of his guilty plea.

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.

Robert Dodsworth, the Erie man sentenced to more than six years in prison for his part in a widespread mortgage-fraud scam, starts serving his federal prison sentence today. Dodsworth had asked if he could serve his time at FCI-McKean, but he was sent to Lewisburg instead. Dodsworth's business partner, former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz, has pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges for his part in the scam. Kartesz will be sentenced on July 23. He faces up to 35 years in prison, but will likely receive a lesser sentence, in large part because of his guilty plea. Three other people are also charged. The government claims the victims suffered losses exceeding $1 million.

Three defendants in the federal probe of a widespread local mortgage-fraud scheme will get more time from the federal government to prepare for trial. The case against Gregory M. Finney of Erie, Keith A. Rice of Harborcreek Township and Francis R. Conti of Waterford has been moved to August. They were scheduled to appear in court this month. Former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz has already pleaded guilty in the case. He'll be sentenced on July 23 and faces up to 35 years in prison. Kartesz's business partner, Robert Dodsworth has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for his part in the scheme, and is expected to report to F-C-I McKean on June 16.

Former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz has pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in relation to a widespread mortgage-fraud scheme in the city of Erie. Kartesz is among five people charged by the federal government in relation to the mortgage fraud case, which the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and other agencies have been investigating since 2004. Kartesz and others bought run-down houses in Erie and sold them at artificially inflated prices. The buyers were mostly low-income people who knew little about how to buy a home. Kartesz's business partner Robert Dodsworth was sentenced earlier this month to six years in prison. He's expected to serve his time at F-C-I McKean.

03/26/08 - Kartesz Hearing Set for Monday in Erie A plea hearing for Frank Kartesz II, a key figure in the ongoing federal mortgage-fraud investigation in Erie, has been rescheduled. Kartesz, a former Bradford landlord, is now set to enter a plea before U.S. District Court Judge Sean J. McLaughlin on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Erie. Kartesz's plea hearing had been set for Feb. 15, but it was abruptly canceled. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Erie on Jan. 31 charged Kartesz with one count each of mail fraud and criminal conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud. Kartesz waived his indictment in the mortgage-fraud case. The government alleges that Kartesz was part of a scheme in which he and others bought run-down houses and sold them at artificially inflated prices. 3/26/08 - Bisett Building Center to Celebrate 125 Years Bisett Building Center will celebrate it’s 125th anniversary on Saturday May 17 from 8am – 4pm on Davis Street. 1490 WESB w...

03/15/08 - Dodsworth Likely Going to FCI McKean The business partner of former Bradford landlord Frank Kartesz is likely to spend his time in prison at F-C-I McKean. Robert Dodsworth was sentenced Friday to six years and four months in federal prison for his part in a mortgage-fraud scheme. He is expected to report to U.S. marshals on June 16, and is free on bond until then. The FBI, Internal Revenue Service and other agencies have been investigating the mortgage-fraud case since 2004. Federal officials said victims lost more than $1 million between 2003 and 2006. As part of his sentence, Dodsworth was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $57,365 in restitution to lending institutions affected by the scam. Dodsworth was not ordered to pay restitution to individual homeowners. The government said restitution for those victims is nearly impossible to award.Kartesz had been expected to plead guilty last month, but that hearing was postponed and has not been rescheduled yet. 03/15/08 - ...

03/14/08 - Kanefest Cancelled for This Year Kanefest has been cancelled for this year. The festival planning committee says that due to many unforeseen economic circumstances it's not financially feasible to go ahead with the festival. The committee also said that due to recent negative publicity, there have been several lost sponsorship opportunities, adding to the financial problems. The committee had decided that a beer tent could be set up at the festival, but local clergy opposed that idea. A public forum is scheduled for April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kane Area Community Center to discuss new ideas for a community festival. 03/14/08 - Alleged Bank Robber Didn't Plan Well A Tioga County man is accused of an attempted bank robbery — and if poor planning were a crime, he'd probably be charged with that, too. Police say a man arrived at the Citizens and Northern Bank in the borough of Liberty on Thursday and waited in his car for about 20 minutes. Shortly after noon, he trie...