Politics & Government

Man to Serve 3 Years in Connection with Elkridge Mortgage Scheme

Bethesda mortgage broker refinanced a "home" in Elkridge that turned out to be an empty lot, among other offenses.

The Baltimore Sun Thursday reported that a Maryland mortgage broker was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for fraudulent activity, in an article focusing on the man's dealings in Elkridge.

Douglas Skibicki of Bethesda made $1.4 million in bogus real estate claims between 2006 and 2009, according to the FBI, which facilitated the investigation.

Twice, Skibicki filed to refinance an Elkridge property at 5870 Deer Ridge Lane, said the FBI. Officials said he claimed that there was a 2,040-square-foot home on the property when in fact the property is a vacant lot.

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Skibicki submitted a fraudulent appraisal that included photographs of a home located elsewhere, falsely indicating they were of the Elkridge home on Deer Ridge Lane, according to prosecutors.

According to the state, Skibicki’s appraiser sought again to refinance the property in 2007, claiming the empty lot contained a "3,297-square-foot, five bedroom home…with a stone patio, an enclosed and covered porch, and a balcony.”

Find out what's happening in Elkridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Skibicki falsified his W-2s and stated that his primary residence was at the Elkridge property, measures that contributed to the bank's decision to grant him $517,000 to refinance in 2007, said the Maryland U.S. State's Attorney.

In addition to financial institutions, Skibicki brought family members into his dealings, putting their names on documents as owners, charges stated.

“With the assistance of an appraiser and others, he defrauded family members, lenders and others,” according a Jan. 12 statement from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The state reported that the appraiser died before charges could be filed against him in connection with those transactions.

In exchange for Skibicki’s guilty plea to two counts of mail fraud, the judge sentenced him to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $1.4 million and pay restitution to the victims of an amount that the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office said was to be determined.


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