A Charles County woman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to mail fraud that was part of a plan to defraud lenders and a title insurance company of $1.7 million.
Brenda Lukenich, 60, of Hughesville was an escrow accountant for title companies that operated in Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.
Roughly five years ago, Lukenich altered escrow account statements prior to audits — required by the title insurer — to show that accounts were balanced even though they actually were short about $3 million, the statement said.
Her deceptive accounting practices, in part, caused the title insurer to lose about $1.7 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Lukenich faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12.
Two co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 7, prosecutors said.
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