In Florida, state statute section 817.545 deals with mortgage fraud. It was passed in 2007 but because it created a new third degree felony, sentences often defaulted to the lowest permissible level, a non-prison sanction under the states sentencing guidelines. Consequently, results were mixed. Last December, the state changed the law such that convictions would require a jail sentence of up to 18 years. Speakers at the Fraud Issues Conference report that the law in Florida is already working much better as a fraud deterrent. More to follow…