Lawyer and Radio Host Warren Ballentine Convicted in $9.7 Million Mortgage Fraud Schemes, Sentenced to One Day

Case from 2013–2016 (U.S. Attorney's Office latest release: Oct. 24, 2014; later developments are from court records and other sources cited below). Published on Scammers.com Oct. 16, 2026; case status is current as of that date.

Warren Ballentine, an Illinois lawyer and internet radio talk show host, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 24, 2014, for his role in two mortgage fraud schemes that prosecutors said cost lenders about $9.7 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced [1].

Sentence: U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly sentenced him below the guidelines range to concurrent one-day prison terms with time served, three years of supervised release, $140,940 in restitution and a $600 assessment, the Seventh Circuit later noted. On Dec. 22, 2016, the appeals court allowed his appointed lawyer to withdraw and dismissed his appeal as frivolous [3].

How the schemes worked

According to the trial evidence, as described by prosecutors [1] [2]:

1. First scheme (December 2004 to February 2005): At least eight loans totaling about $3.6 million were obtained with false loan applications, HUD-1 settlement statements and occupancy statements for homes in Chicago, Monee, Woodridge and Mokena.
2. Second scheme (February 2005 to May 2006): At least 20 loans totaling about $6.1 million were obtained the same way for homes in Chicago, Country Club Hills, Richton Park, Markham and other suburbs.
3. Ballentine's role: He represented buyers recruited by others at closings, knowing they had been fraudulently qualified, and advised some to sign false documents at closing.

The Seventh Circuit described the buyers as straw buyers who falsely said they would live in the homes to get 100% financing and lower rates. Ballentine reviewed the closing documents with them, including the false occupancy affidavits [3].

The person convicted

Warren Ballentine, 43, Durham, N.C., formerly of Country Club Hills — owner of the Law Office of Warren Ballentine LLC.

• Indicted: January 2013 on six counts [2].
• Convicted (Oct. 24, 2014): two counts of bank fraud, two counts of false statements to lenders, and one count each of mail fraud and wire fraud.
• Sentence: one day, time served; three years of supervised release; $140,940 restitution [3].

Red flags

• Anyone urging you to sign an occupancy affidavit for a home you won't live in.
• Recruiters offering cash to put a mortgage in your name.
• A closing attorney who brushes off discrepancies in the documents.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Never sign loan papers that misstate your income, assets or occupancy. Straw buyers can face criminal charges and ruined credit.
2. Hire your own closing attorney rather than one supplied by a seller or recruiter.
3. Report mortgage fraud to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.

Case status (as of Oct. 16, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 16, 2026	Source
Warren Ballentine, Durham, N.C.	N.D. Ill. (Judge Kennelly), 13 CR 88; 7th Cir. No. 15-2585	Convicted at trial Oct. 24, 2014; sentenced to one day (time served), 3 years supervised release, $140,940 restitution; appeal dismissed Dec. 22, 2016	[1], [3]

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, "Illinois Lawyer And Internet Radio Talk Show Host Convicted In $9.7 Million Mortgage Fraud Schemes," Oct. 24, 2014. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/illinois-lawyer-and-internet-radio-talk-show-host-convicted-97-million-mortgage-fraud
2. U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, "Suburban Chicago Lawyer Who Hosts National Radio Talk Show Indicted In $9.7 Million Mortgage Fraud Schemes," Jan. 28, 2013. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/suburban-chicago-lawyer-who-hosts-national-radio-talk-show-indicted-97-million-mortgage
3. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, United States v. Ballentine, No. 15-2585, Dec. 22, 2016 (nonprecedential). https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Path=Y2016%2FD12-22%2FC%3A15-2585%3AJ%3APerCuriam%3Aaut%3AT%3AnpDp%3AN%3A1883665%3AS%3A0&Submit=Display

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