A man from St. Louis, Missouri has confessed in federal court to committing bank fraud by obtaining over $1.2 million in fraudulent home mortgages. Edward James Mitchell Jr., who also goes by Musa Muhammad, admitted his involvement in the fraudulent acquisition of four mortgages between October 2021 and November 2023, amounting to $1,225,550.
Mitchell's guilty plea unfolded in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, where he acknowledged using deceitful means to purchase properties. Operating through his company, Home Team Solutions LLC, Mitchell initially acquired four homes, three of which were located in St. Louis and one in Florissant. According to his plea agreement, he impersonated a relative to obtain two of those properties from his company, utilizing false mortgage applications, fictitious employment and financial details, and his relative's Social Security number and birthdate. Additionally, he personally purchased one home and sold another to a partner, involving further fraudulent documentation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office estimates that these actions resulted in a $490,946 loss for lending institutions after Fannie Mae acquired the mortgages. However, Mitchell disputes this figure, maintaining that only two loans resulted in actual losses, amounting to $226,950.
Mitchell, age 37, is due to receive his sentence on July 8. The charge of bank fraud comes with potential penalties of up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both.
In a name change documented in October 2023, Mitchell became known officially as Musa Muhammad.
This case was investigated by both the FBI and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman leading the prosecution.