(Pittsburgh, PA) A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to one (1) day of imprisonment and three (3) years of supervised release on her conviction of bank fraud and conspiracy, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. 

United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Lee Ann Benninghoff,  age 45, Aliquippa.  

According to information presented to the court, Benninghoff owned and operated Complete  Escrow and Bella Casa Realty. From February 2014 through March 2017, Benninghoff used her  position and connections in real estate financing, and conspired with others in the industry, to submit  fraudulent gift letters in support of mortgage loan applications. The gift letters misrepresented the  source of the funds and their purported purpose. 

Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar prosecuted this case on behalf of the  government.  

United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of  Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector  General, and the U.S. Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of  Benninghoff.