Woman charged with lying to authorities in HOA case
Justice Department lawyers are not finished bringing criminal charges in the massive scheme to take over Las Vegas area homeowners associations.
Stephanie Liane Markham became the latest co-conspirator charged in the sweeping case.
A federal grand jury indicted her Wednesday on charges of lying to the FBI, committing perjury before the grand jury and obstruction of justice.
According to the indictment, Markham tried to cover up her 1 percent interest in a condominium at the Jasmine complex, where she agreed to run for a seat on the HOA board in 2006.
The Jasmine HOA was one of nearly a dozen victimized in the takeover scheme federal prosecutors have alleged was orchestrated by former construction company boss Leon Benzer.
Markham faces a Jan. 7 arraignment on the felony charges before U.S. Magistrate Bill Hoffman.
Benzer and five others are to stand trial Feb. 23 on fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from the scheme prosecutors say occurred between 2003 and 2009.
Since August 2011, three dozen co-conspirators in the high-profile investigation have pleaded guilty.
Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135. Follow @JGermanRJ on Twitter.
