TAMPA — A 54-year-old Clermont mortgage consultant pleaded guilty to bank fraud after fabricating income documents to dupe lenders into approving loans for unqualified borrowers — his second such case, as he was already awaiting sentencing for a similar scheme.
Kenneth Blair faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison after entering his guilty plea in the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced. Blair entered the plea while on pretrial release and awaiting sentencing in a separate mortgage fraud prosecution. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Blair ran the scheme from as early as May 2024 through July 2025. His role included preparing and submitting fictitious paystubs and employment promotion letters in the names of real companies to show fabricated income for his clients. The forged documents caused mortgage lenders to approve and fund loans for borrowers who otherwise would not have qualified, in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair.
The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration — meaning taxpayer-backed programs absorbed the risk of loans built on false pretenses.
The case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution comes as the Department of Justice ramps up fraud enforcement nationally. On April 7, 2026, the department announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, whose core mission is to investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The division supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Blair now faces sentencing in both federal cases. No date has been scheduled for either proceeding.