Father, Brother of Ex-Gov. Roemer Indicted in Fraud
The father and brother of former Gov. Buddy Roemer were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on bank fraud charges involving a $9.6-million loan for a real estate deal.
The former governor wasn’t named in the indictment.
The indictment of Roemer’s father, Charles E. Roemer II; his brother, Franklin Danny Roemer; and a third man, R. Lee Harvill, followed an 18-month probe by the FBI and federal prosecutors, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
The two-count indictment accuses the three of conspiracy and bank fraud, the U.S. attorney’s office said. If convicted on both counts, each could be imprisoned for five years and fined $250,000.
The indictment alleges that the Roemers and Harvill conspired to defraud Liberty Federal Savings & Loan of Leesville through a $9.6-million loan for the purchase and development of a 92-acre tract of land in Shreveport.
Prosecutors described the alleged scheme as a “land flip” in which the property would be purchased but then the construction funds would be diverted to the defendants’ personal use.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
