Nicodemo Scarfo's Wife Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charges

The wife of a reputed mob figure from Galloway plead guilty to defrauding a mortgage lender to purchase a $715,000 house in Egg Harbor Township, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced on Tuesday.

Lisa Marie Scarfo, 34, of Elmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false statements for the purpose of influencing the actions of the bank on her mortgage loan application, officials said.

Lisa Marie Scarfo, her husband Nicodemo Scarfo Jr. and 12 others were charged with various counts of racketeering, the illegal takeover of Texas-based FirstPlus Financial Group, a publicly traded company, securities and fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in November of 2011.

Specifically, Lisa Murray-Scarfo was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making false loan statements on a loan application in securing a fraudulent mortgage to purchase a $715,000 house with funds from the racketeering enterprise's criminal activity.

Her charges carried with them 30- and five-year prison terms, respectively.

She admitted she joined the conspiracy in January of 2008 when she worked with her husband and others to secure a $500,000 mortgage from St. Edmond’s Federal Savings Bank to purchase the home, officials said.

Scarfo is a made member of the Lucchese Family of La Costa Nostra, and Pelullo, an associate of the Lucchese and Philadelphia La Costra Nostra families.

Nicodemo Scarfo’s associate Salvatore Pellulo, Scarfo's father, Nicodemo Scarfo Sr., Vittorio Amuso, attorneys William Maxwell, Cory Leshner, David Adler, Gary McCarthy and Donald Manno, as well as certified public accountant Howard Drossner were also charged in the November, 2011 indictment.

Drossner previously pleaded guilty, admitting that, at the direction of Pellulo, he created the false tax returns to help Scarfo secure the house, according to officials. The returns exaggerated Lisa Marie Scarfo’s income, according to officials.

Officials accuse Scarfo of using money from FirstPlus Financial Group to put a $215,000 down payment on the house.