Former attorney gets 5 1/2 years for real estate fraud

Posted to: Crime News Norfolk
Login or register to post comments

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 18, 2009

NORFOLK

A former associate of disbarred lawyer Troy Titus was sentenced Monday to 5-1/2 years in federal prison after admitting her role in a million-dollar real estate scam.

Kristina M. Cardwell, 39, a former attorney, wept as she stood before U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

"I make no excuses. I'm so sorry," she told the judge, having to halt after breaking down while talking about her 2-1/2-year-old daughter. "She's all I care about."

Cardwell pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting she obtained $1.3 million in loans for the purchase for three homes, but then turned most of the loan money over to Titus, who spent it on his personal and professional debts, according to court records.

Titus paid Cardwell $65,000 for acting as the "straw purchaser" of the properties, the records say. She also received some of the loan proceeds.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa O'Boyle asked the judge to sentence Cardwell to between eight and 10 years in prison, citing "the very serious crimes here." She said Cardwell continued in the scheme with Titus even after being alerted by authorities that they were under investigation.

She argued that a message be sent that as a lawyer "you hold the public trust in your hands."

Cardwell's attorney, Mark Del Duca, asked for a reduced sentence, arguing that his client's acts were secondary to what Titus did.

In the end, though calling the crimes "horrendous," Jackson gave Cardwell a break, citing community support and her lack of criminal record. The judge said he received more than 20 letters from Cardwell's friends and family.

Cardwell has been cooperating with authorities in building their case against Titus.

Titus, who is in jail, is facing trial Nov. 10 on a 49-count indictment. He is charged with bilking clients, including R&B performer and producer Teddy Riley, in a series of real estate deals, pocketing about $1.3 million.

Also Monday, Titus was in court asking permission to replace his public defender with Norfolk defense attorney Andrew Sacks, whom he recently retained. The judge approved the move.

Both Cardwell and Titus were disbarred by the Virginia State Bar.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

I wonder if she would tell

Submitted by whoknows on Tue, 08/18/2009 at 3:02 pm.

I wonder if she would tell her client's to cry as she represented them. She should have thought about her daughter while doing the crime. I don't care how many letters, the judge has a job to do and if she gets a bogus sentence.,this case will go on the books for many attorneys to use! Don't do the crime if you can't do the time! Learn from lessons, you have a choice to do the right thing, but you choose to do the wrong thing.. may your daughter be blessed in your absence.

Such a great country is ours...

Submitted by ct62661 on Tue, 08/18/2009 at 12:29 pm.

that we enjoy the specter of another's misery.

So un-evolved.

Grow up people.

Typical

Submitted by msanders1409 on Tue, 08/18/2009 at 9:35 am.

Cardwell stands before a judge, crying, only concerned for her daughter. Wonder why she didn't think of her family when she will committing crimes...same stuff, different people. How nice that she got 20 family members to write letters about what an up-standing, wonderful human being she is. *puke*