Father, Brother of Ex-Gov. Roemer Indicted in Fraud
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SHREVEPORT, La. — The father and brother of former Gov. Buddy Roemer were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on bank fraud charges involving a $9.6-million loan for a real estate deal.
The former governor wasn’t named in the indictment.
The indictment of Roemer’s father, Charles E. Roemer II; his brother, Franklin Danny Roemer; and a third man, R. Lee Harvill, followed an 18-month probe by the FBI and federal prosecutors, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
The two-count indictment accuses the three of conspiracy and bank fraud, the U.S. attorney’s office said. If convicted on both counts, each could be imprisoned for five years and fined $250,000.
The indictment alleges that the Roemers and Harvill conspired to defraud Liberty Federal Savings & Loan of Leesville through a $9.6-million loan for the purchase and development of a 92-acre tract of land in Shreveport.
Prosecutors described the alleged scheme as a “land flip” in which the property would be purchased but then the construction funds would be diverted to the defendants’ personal use.
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