6 mortgage-fraud defendants sentenced in Charlotte: "(By Kirsten Valle Pittman, kpittman@charlotteobserver.com) A federal judge handed down the strictest sentences yet Thursday in Operation Wax House, one of the biggest mortgage fraud investigations ever in the Charlotte area.
U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn Jr. ordered more than 11 years in prison for Drew Sharreff-El, who authorities say used a stolen identity to obtain two loans worth more than $2.6 million for homes that later fell into foreclosure. He also controlled an S.C. construction company used to receive fraud proceeds."