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86 STATE OF AFFAIRS: SOUTH » Morejon, will spend 50 months in prison for her role in the scheme. Each of the co-defen- dants was convicted at trial on various counts of wire and bank fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Alvarado, along with the other four individuals, controlled and operated three real estate entities in the Miami area: South Florida Realty; American Mortgage Lending, a mortgage broker; and Royal Atlantic Title, a title insurance agency. From February 2004 through November 2009, Alvarado and his co-conspirators used these companies to forge documents and misrepresent important facts to financial in- stitutions in order to fraudulently secure loans totaling more than $2.4 million. Officials say the loans were often obtained by submitting falsified supporting documentation, such as tax returns, W2 forms, bank statements, and employment verifications. Evidence at trial showed that Alvarado and his co-conspirators subsequently enriched themselves by diverting loan proceeds, collecting brokerage fees, and inflating real estate commis- sions on the property sales. e group obtained control of multiple properties during the real estate boom with the intent to flip and sell them for a profit or control them as rental properties. e Justice Department says the defendants used their knowledge and experience in the real estate industry to conceal their scheme by executing quit-claim deeds and failing to record or falsely recording mortgage deeds and other documentation with the state of Florida. e case was investigated by the FBI's Miami field office and the Miami-Dade Police Department. Florida Law Firm Rebrands and Expands Service to Puerto Rico e veteran-, minority-, and woman-owned default law firm founded by Marisol Morales, Esq., announced its expansion into Puerto Rico and a name change from Morales Law Group, PA, to Millennium Partners. "In order to better reflect our firm's expand- ed market reach and growth in staff we chose a new name that forward and thinks long-term," said CEO Daniel Heredia. "Engaging our staff in the process and building a brand around our team, values, and goals was our top priority." Millennium Partners remains a woman-, minority-, and veteran-owned firm. e firm Georgia Marc Oppenheimer Associate Broker, CDPE / BPOR Serving REO Since 1987 1854 Independence Square, Suite D Atlanta, GA 30338 Phone: (770) 668-0063 Cell: (678) 296-6550 oppy@atlantareo.com www.atlantareo.com Georgia RANK: 33 90+ Day Foreclosure Unemployment Delinquency Rate Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 3.30% 1.35% 7.7% YEAR AGO 4.16% 2.01% 8.7% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -20.5% -33.0% -1.0% Top County EVANS COUNTY 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 1.83% 4.58% YEAR AGO 5.24% 1.38% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -65.1% 230.7% Top Core-Based Statistical Area THOMASTON, GA 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 5.05% 2.71% YEAR AGO 6.31% 3.29% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -19.9% -17.7% note: The 90+ day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the November 2013 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary November 2013 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of LPS Data & Analytics. Kentucky RANK: 26 90+ Day Foreclosure Unemployment Delinquency Rate Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 2.36% 1.89% 8.2% YEAR AGO 2.51% 2.61% 8.0% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -5.9% -27.5% 0.2% Top County HARLAN COUNTY 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 5.12% 6.62% YEAR AGO 5.50% 6.47% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -6.9% 2.3% Top Core-Based Statistical Area LONDON, KY 90+ Day Foreclosure Delinquency Rate Rate NOVEMBER 2013 3.18% 3.62% YEAR AGO 3.70% 4.67% YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE -14.1% -22.5% note: The 90+ day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are seriously delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the November 2013 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary November 2013 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of LPS Data & Analytics. has plans to relocate its mainland headquarters from Miami Lakes, Florida, to central Miami- Dade County. e San Juan, Puerto Rico, office of Millennium Partners opened in the financial district's Banco Popular tower in July 2013 and began representing clients immediately. "When I founded my firm, I was hopeful, as all entreprenuers are, but I understood that success is not guaranteed in a competi- tive market like Florida," Morales said. "We now have a brand that reflects our success but also our longevity and the shared goals of an entire team of talented people working on behalf of our clients." Millennium Partners provides legal representation to mortgage servicers and institutional lenders throughout the state of Florida and now in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. e firm provides services in all areas of default servicing, including foreclosure, title, evictions, bankruptcy, complex lender/servicer litigation, loss mitigation, and REO disposition. With the firm's name change, all of its certifications, memberships, and affiliations carry over to Millennium Partners. e firm is a member of the Mortgage Bankers As- sociation (MBA) and the American Legal & Financial Network (ALFN). Annual increase of home values in Atlanta. Source: Atlanta Business Chronicle STAT INSIGHT 18.5%