McLean man indicted in expensive homes scam

The former owner of a now-defunct mortgage company was indicted on fraud charges in a scheme to steal properties in Northwest Washington, court documents said.

Federal prosecutors said Steve I. Hetrick used impostor sellers and his vast knowledge of the District of Columbia’s real estate market to illegally take possession of two properties without the owners knowing about it. Hetrick was charged with nine counts of fraud, money laundering and interstate transportation of stolen property.