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Dallas Real Estate Title Worker Sentenced Via VTC to 46 Months for Fraud

April 8, 2020 Mark Curriden

In the first video teleconference sentencing in federal court in Dallas since the COVID-19 crisis began, U.S. District Chief Judge Barbara Lynn this week sentenced a medical mask-wearing white-collar criminal defendant to nearly four years in prison for her role in a $1.4 million real estate title insurance scheme.

Federal prosecutors charged Constance Marie Kelly of Dallas and Leonard James McMorris with fraudulently transferring more than $1.4 million from the escrow accounts of her employer, American Title, into bank accounts belonging to McMorris.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis, who prosecuted the duo, said that Kelly admitted that she initiated at least 51 wire transfers and wrote 11 checks to fraudulently disburse the money from an American Title account at Compass Bank in Alabama between 2002 and 2007.

McMorris pleaded guilty more than three years ago to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Kelly, who is 56, pleaded guilty to in November to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Judge Lynn conducted Monday’s sentencing hearing by video teleconference. Kelly, who was being held at the Dallas County Jail, was transported to the federal courthouse to appear by VTC. The prosecutor, defense attorney Heath Hyde, the court reporter and probation officer all appeared by video from separate locations.

Kelly told Judge Lynn that she had no concerns about the sentencing hearing being conducted by video teleconferencing.

Judge Lynn sentenced Kelly to 46 months of incarceration. McMorris and Kelly are jointly and severally liable for more than $1.4 million in restitution.

“This defendant, who defrauded her employer out of more than a million dollars, was sentenced via video teleconference,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “We are gratified the court is working with our office to ensure justice marches on, even amidst a pandemic.”

Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

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