Opinion ID: 171005
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Transactions Involving Trenson Byrd

Text: For his part, Mr. Williams had been working with (among others) Linda Edwards, a real estate agent with Affable Realty. After completing several fraudulent transactions with her, Mr. Williams expressed his interest in obtaining a position as a loan officer and thus expanding his role beyond that of a document maker. She set up an appointment for him with Trenson Byrd, the owner of Mid America Mortgage and the third charged coconspirator that proceeded to trial with the defendants. Around September 1999, Mr. Byrd, at Ms. Edwards's recommendation, hired Mr. Williams as a loan officer at Mid America Mortgage. While at Mid America, Mr. Williams created false income documents and social security numbers for buyers and worked with Ms. Edwards to submit them to HUD. In November 1999, Mr. Byrd noticed an abnormally high number of loan applicants with supporting documentation that listed the same employer, an entity called Neighborstat, which was one of Mr. Williams's and Mr. Wesson's fictitious companies. Mr. Byrd reported his finding to HUD and instructed his staff that Mid America would no longer process loans for Neighborstat employees. Mr. Williams subsequently left Mid America after just a couple months and worked at several other mortgage companies before acquiring a position at Catalina Century Mortgage. Mr. Byrd claimed he did not work with or know Mr. Hilaire or Ms. Carnagie prior to being charged in this case and had never heard of Mr. Wesson.