Woman pleads guilty to her role in Hawaii real estate scheme

HONOLULU (AP) — A Honolulu woman who became a fugitive for several days while out on bond awaiting trial in a complex real estate scheme pleaded guilty Wednesday to wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges.

Jury selection was about to begin when Jennifer McTigue, who is representing herself, agreed to a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

At times sounding like was crying, McTigue said in U.S. District Court in Honolulu that she takes responsibility for her role in a scheme that defrauded new homeowners, title companies and banks.

“Many people were damaged and that’s wrong,” she said. “And I’m responsible for that because I played a part in that process.”

She explained that one of her co-defendants created false documents that made it look like properties facing foreclosure were free of their mortgages. She then filed those forms with the state Bureau of Conveyances knowing the properties had unpaid mortgages, she said. Along with a third co-defendant, they sold the properties to buyers who were unaware of the mortgages.

McTigue pressed forward with a trial after her two co-defendants, Marc Melton and Sakara Blackwell, pleaded guilty. They are awaiting sentencing.

McTigue was out on bond when authorities two weeks ago announced she had become a fugitive. A few days later, she was found hiding in a friend’s house and her bail was revoked, despite her attempts to argue that she wouldn’t be able to adequately prepare for trial while behind bars.

Prosecutors say the scheme involved more than $3 million in property sales.

McTigue faces up to about 20 years in prison.