A 58-year-old Sicklerville woman and her husband – a Willingboro councilman – each face a possible 30 years in prison after their recent conviction in a mortgage fraud case, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
A federal jury found Chrisone D. Anderson and 59-year-old Nathaniel Anderson – also the former mayor of Willingboro – guilty in the fraudulent short sale of real estate between 2015 and 2017. Charges included one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, one count of bank fraud and two counts of making a false statement on a mortgage application.
A federal jury deliberated for fewer than three hours following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court. The couple were indicted by a grand jury in 2024.
Both Andersons orchestrated the fraudulent short sale of a property in Willingboro from Nathaniel to Chrisone, according to evidence at trial. In an attempt to defraud a government-sponsored enterprise to discharge a mortgage obligation on Nathaniel’s property in Willingboro – and to obtain a new mortgage on the property – Chrisone executed mortgage documents with false representations.
Those misrepresentations included that the short sale was an arm’s length transaction; that Chrisone Anderson did not have a prior business relationship with Nathaniel Anderson; that Nathaniel would not continue to occupy the property as his residence following the short sale; and that Chrisone would occupy the property as her primary residence.
As a result of the fraud, the government-sponsored enterprise discharged Nathaniel Anderson’s mortgage obligation – causing a total loss of more than $200,000 – and the victim lender issued a new mortgage on the property.
Besides prison time, the Andersons face a fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1.
