Mortgage fraud defendants sentenced

A defendant who admitted laundering money in a six-figure mortgage-fraud scheme centered on townhomes in Lakehurst is sentenced to five years in a state prison.

Christopher Colatrella, 43, of Wall Township, was sentenced July 31 for his guilty plea to a second-degree count of financial facilitation of criminal activity, according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

Investigators who filed charges in August 2012 alleged that the defendants raked in more than $740,000 in mortgages gained under false pretenses, then moved the money through a series of personal and business accounts.

Colatrella's brother, John Colatrella, 52, of Long Branch, was given two years probation for a third-degree charge of conspiracy to commit theft by deception.

Colatrella's daughter, Alexis Colatrella, 29, of Wall, was admitted to Pre-Trial Invervention (PTI) for a role in the scheme, authorities said.

In the plea agreement with the Prosecutor's office, charges of theft by deception and conspiracy were dismissed against, Martin D'Amato, Clara Carr, Dolores Cittadino and Vincent Veritas.