2 plead guilty in mortgage fraud scheme

FRESNO, Calif. — Lucia Chavez, 37, and her husband Joseph Chavez, 41, both of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud, in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme in Bakersfield, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. As part of their plea agreements, Lucia Chavez agreed to a personal forfeiture money judgment of $1,624,450, and Joseph Chavez agreed to a personal forfeiture money judgment of $3,092,000.