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I won't be able to attend the sentencing, but I hope it gets some press coverage. This is the same Norman Chapa who's worked with Jorge Casimiro/ Tremont Homes/ Tremont Tower/ Juliet's owners... for years. "Norman Chapa pleaded guilty last June and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 18. He faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000" Third Guilty Plea Comes in Texas-Based Visa Fraud Scam Houston law firm falsely secured visas for Chinese nationals U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced a third guilty plea by a suspect connected to an international scheme to issue fraudulent visas. Horacio Golfarini pleaded guilty August 12 to charges stemming from a scheme in which he and associates secured visas for Chinese nationals based on false information about business and employment connections that purportedly awaited the Chinese when they entered the United States. Two others connected with the conspiracy, based at the Houston law firm, Kenneth L. Rothey & Associates P.C., have already pleaded guilty. One suspect, Kenneth Rothey, is a fugitive but has been indicted on charges of visa fraud, money laundering and encouraging Chinese nationals to enter the United States illegally. The following is the text of the ICE press release: U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement August 12, 2005 News Release LAW FIRM EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO MONEY LAUNDERING IN INTERNATIONAL VISA FRAUD SCAM Four local law firm employees were indicted for smuggling Chinese nationals into United States HOUSTON - A local law firm employee pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court this morning to conspiring with an immigration attorney and others to launder $267,000 in funds earned through an international visa scam, following an investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Horacio Golfarini, 43, a U.S. permanent resident and native of Uruguay, pleaded guilty today following his indictment in March. He admitted paying local businesses between $10,000 to $20,000 to control an interest in the Houston-based companies he and others duped. Golfarini enticed Chinese nationals to enter the U.S. as intra-company transferees, managers or executives. Golfarini was president of Capital Services Group and also an employee of Kenneth Rothey of Rothey Law Offices in Houston. Norman Chapa, 52, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty in June 2004 to charges of visa fraud and to filing frivolous immigration petitions. Chapa admitted taking part in an international visa scam from May 1999 to January 2004. Chapa described how he helped recruit Chinese nationals while he was employed by Kenneth Rothey. The Chinese nationals sought immigration benefits that would allow them to enter and work in the United States. Kenneth Rothey, 64, a local immigration attorney and owner of Rothey Law Firm in Houston, was indicted in March on charges of visa fraud, money laundering and encouraging Chinese nationals to enter the U.S. illegally. If convicted, Rothey faces up to five years imprisonment for each of the nine counts on charges of encouraging unlawful immigration, 12 counts of visa fraud, and various money laundering charges relating to the financial transactions conducted with the proceeds of $267,000 of money paid to him by the Chinese nationals. "We will investigate and promote prosecuting anyone who files false petitions to circumvent the federal immigration procedures in place," said Bob Rutt, ICE's special agent-in-charge. "We will work closely with the U.S. Attorney's office to ensure that individuals don't abuse our legal and immigration systems and legitimate employers." The indictment alleges that Rothey, Golfarini and Chapa filed frivolous immigration petitions by creating the illusion that there was an affiliation between specific Chinese and U.S. companies. The three were charged with sending fictitious immigration petitions to the Texas Service Center (TSC), which is part of the Office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The defendants purportedly employed these Chinese nationals at one of eight local businesses as intra-company transferees or executives. They completed fictitious immigration forms and acted as petitioners on behalf of the Chinese nationals. After entering the United States, those seeking to gain employment also thought they could ultimately adjust their status to remain in the U.S. Each Chinese national was willing to pay as much as $100,000 for immigrant visas and work authorization documents. A fourth defendant, Ricardo Aguirre, 53, from Houston, was also charged with immigration fraud last August. Aguirre worked with Rothey and admitted he paid U.S. business owners about $20,000 each for creating fraudulent subsidiary relationships with Chinese companies to sponsor the employment-based petitions for his Chinese clients. Horacio Golfarini is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 4. He faces up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000. Norman Chapa pleaded guilty last June and is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 18. He faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Ricardo Aguirre pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. He faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Kenneth Rothey remains a fugitive and efforts are underway to secure his return to the United States. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation's unit also assisted in this ICE-led investigation. ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Joke Q: What's the difference between Jorge Casimiro and God? A: God doesn't think he's Jorge Casimiro.

Just checked w/ the Secretary of State - Carlisle is a Tremont DBA: Filing Number: 109532300 Entity Type: Domestic Business Corporation Original Date of Filing: November 17, 1988 Entity Status: In existence Formation Date: N/A Tax ID: 30113190414 FEIN: Duration: Perpetual Name: STATURE CONSTRUCTION, INC. Address: 2318-A S SHEPHERD #605 Houston, TX 77019 USA REGISTERED AGENT FILING HISTORY NAMES MANAGEMENT ASSUMED NAMES ASSOCIATED ENTITIES Assumed Name Date of Filing Expiration Date Inactive Date Name Status Counties CARLISLE HOMES April 2, 1997 April 2, 2007 Active HARRIS, TREMONT CUSTOM HOMES March 15, 1999 March 15, 2009 Active All Counties

I agree..the interest only and ARMS loans will suffer as interest rates rise. It will be 'interesting' to say the least when this happens. Since the bankruptcy laws have changed, there will be no way out. Sure, builders set up their own mortgage companies to capalitize on more profits. But, really, now who are the mortgage companies looking out for? This leads to high pressure sales tactics and more opportunity for fraud. The builder now chooses the appraiser, the '3rd party' inspector, and the title company, all which once had never had an interest in either party, now are out to help the builder and not the consumer.

I've heard Mortgage Brokers have gone as far to qualify illegal immigrants for loans by helping them find a social security number for their application. Too often, the mortage broker is tied in with the builder. The loose lending practices are a license to print money. The Texas Savings and Loan Department's complaints have already doubled this year vs. 2004. They're doing the best to handle the increased load, but is this department the only source of enforcement?

Day 2: Typical Tremont arrogance !! Nov. 3, 2005, 12:12AM WATCH 'EM Writing's on wall to remove graffiti, city tells Tremont Tower owners - Day 2 TODAY'S FOCUS: On Tuesday we reported about graffiti on the Tremont Tower, a Montrose-area midrise property on Yupon. Several readers wrote to complain that the property owners have let the graffiti remain on one wall of the complex for months. The city's Neighborhood Protection Division spokeswoman, Jodi Silva, said Monday that the division investigated the property Aug. 12 and sent the property owners a notice in early September that said they had until Oct. 12 to clean it up. The graffiti was still there on that date, so they referred the property to the Mayor's Anti-Gang Office. STATUS: Patricia Harrington, of the Anti-Gang Office, told us Tuesday that police officers talked to the property managers several times and offered them free abatement that's available from the city. The community has even offered to get rid of the graffiti during a neighborhood clean-up project recently, Harrington said. "They pretty much turned them down every time we offered our services. ... We've pretty much done our good-faith effort to give them free services out of the Anti-Gang Office," she said. The problem was then referred back to the Neighborhood Protection Division for enforcement. Silva said the division was speaking to the property owners again to let them know that since the graffiti is still up, the city will clean the property and put a lien on it. "We're prepared to move quickly on this," Silva said. We'll follow up. WHOM TO CONTACT: Dial the city's hotline at 311 to report similar problems or call the Neighborhood Protection Division at 713-218-5500. GOT A PROBLEM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? Call us at 713-362-2636 or e-mail us at watchem@chron.com.

Tremont Towers in the news again... WATCH 'EM Months after the initial report, graffiti is still an eyesore on property Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle TODAY'S FOCUS: Several readers have written about Tremont Tower, a Montrose-area midrise property on Yupon, that has graffiti on its walls and high weeds growing on one side of the property. Heather Mickelson wrote, "Tremont still has failed to clean up the graffiti

Tremont makes the news again...in the Houston Press. From houstonpress.com Originally published by Houston Press 2005-10-06