Two AZ Men Face Charges in OH Fraud Scheme

John Wanek of Phoenix, Arizona, and Robert Swanigan of Mesa, Ariz., have been indicted by the Franklin County, Ohio Grand Jury for allegedly having perpetrated a mortgage fraud scheme in Franklin County, Ohio. The defendants were arrested March 30 in Arizona. According to the indictment, the case alleges that Mr. Wanek orchestrated commercial loan fraud through his Arizona companies. Mr. Swanigan was Mr. Wanek's operations manager. Investigators said that in the past six years Mr. Wanek allegedly obtained commercial loans in the Columbus, Ohio area through the use of false statements and forged documents. Mr. Wanek also obtained loans for the purchase of six Columbus apartment complexes and one Indianapolis apartment complex. Mr. Wanek then defaulted on the loans. Mr. Wanek had been indicted in March 2008 in a case alleging mortgage fraud on Franklin County properties worth more than $15 million. That case was due to go to trial this month. The new indictment incorporates the previous case and adds mortgage fraud allegations concerning properties worth an additional $23 million dollars. No trial date has yet been set. Neither defendant could be reached for comment.