Former state trooper pleads not guilty to mortgage fraud

Former Florida Highway Patrol trooper Shaun Leo Reid pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of mortgage fraud involving more than $100,000.

Reid was arrested earlier this month for allegedly lying about his income on federal loan documents used to buy a south Tampa investment home.

His lawyer, Ray Lopez, said Reid had no idea he was part of a fraudulent home deal and was "duped." He said he questions whether investigators went after Lopez in part because of his job in law enforcement.

Lopez, Reid's lawyer, said someone else added this information of Reid's loan application.

"It's pretty conceivable how this could happen if you're not the one sending the info to the bank," Lopez said.

Reid, who collected a salary of $41,000, paid $500,000 for a home at 4515 W. Azeele St., in Tampa's posh Beach Park neighborhood in 2008.

Florida's Office of Financial Regulation conducted the investigation that resulted in Reid's arrest.

Reid was charged with grand theft, mortgage fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. The Florida Highway Patrol fired Reid on Sept. 9, citing that investigation.

Officials with OFR said they couldn't comment on an active investigation.

In a dismissal letter, Reid's boss, Colonel David H. Brierton, referred to the investigation and said Reid lied on financial documents used to convince a bank give him a mortgage. Those documents listed a second job at Hernandez Janitorial Service, with a monthly income of $1,700 and liquid assets of more than $160,000, according to the letter.

The seller of the property, David Fabian of Tampa, gave Reid $115,053, used as a down payment for the property, according to the dismissal letter.

Fabian was arrested for mortgage fraud in October 2010 and that case is scheduled for a jury trial in December. Frank McDermott, Fabian's lawyer, would not comment on the case and would not say whether those charges are related to Reid's case.

Reid's loan documents, Lopez said, were prepared by Brandon Anderson, a director of Griffin Anderson Enterprises. The company is no longer in business and Anderson was not able to be reached for comment. He has not been charged in the case.

State records show the company gave Reid $15,000 around the time he bought the home. Reid made only a few payments, documents show, before the home went into foreclosure. Then Anderson lived in the home rent free, documents show.

Lopez said there is a good explanation for that and it will come out in court.

"[Mr. Reid] did not lie," Lopez said. "He told the truth, and the investigators interpreted it as a lie."

Florida Highway Patrol records show no other disciplinary issues with Reid. This is his first arrest.

Wells Fargo foreclosed on the Azeele St. home earlier this year and sold the property for $280,000 in June.