Conn. couple sentenced for mortgage fraud

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Federal authorities say a 50-year-old Norwalk man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for operating a mortgage fraud scheme.

The U.S. Attorney's office said William A. Trudeau Jr. was sentenced Tuesday in New Haven to 15 years and eight months. His wife, 37-year-old Heather Bliss, received a 30-month sentence for her role in the scheme.

A jury found Trudeau guilty last year of fraud charges. Bliss pleaded guilty in 2010 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three others have pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.

Authorities say Trudeau and his co-conspirators submitted false mortgage loan applications to fraudulently obtain more than $4 million in loans to purchase six properties in Westport and Newtown. They say Trudeau and Bliss will be ordered to pay restitution of more than $4.2 million.