Loan broker sentenced to 58 months in federal prison for multi-year bank fraud scheme

DALLAS - United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould announced that Kwanghee Anh, 46, from Dallas, was sentenced today to nearly 5 years in federal prison for her role in a multi-year bank fraud conspiracy that defrauded lenders of more than $8.3 million.

On March 17, Anh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

"This was not a victimless paperwork scheme," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "Ms. Anh and her partners flooded lenders with false documents and manipulated credit reports to steal millions. Their actions undermine confidence in the financial markets that North Texans and Main Street families rely on every day. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens the stability of our region's banking system and the financial security of hardworking consumers."

"The sentence imposed demonstrates the lengths Ms. Ahn took to defraud North Texas lenders, several of which were federally insured, to benefit herself and her clients." said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. "The FBI remains committed to investigating and holding accountable those who abuse their roles to further fraudulent schemes."

According to plea documents, from January 2014 through March 2016, Anh and other charged co-conspirators employed at Preferred Marketing Group, created and supplied fraudulent financial documents including false IRS Forms W-2, fabricated paystubs and fictitious employment records to inflate clients' incomes and misrepresent their jobs. Anh helped clients prepare loan applications that included this false information and assisted in transmitting fraudulent materials to lenders across North Texas.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Anh and her co-defendants caused lenders-many federally insured-to issue at least $10 million in fraudulently obtained loans and credit products.

At today's sentencing hearing, the government explained that Anh fled the United States in 2017, shortly after initial plea discussions but before she could be indicted. She remained abroad for years until authorities arrested her in South Korea in September 2025 and transferred to U.S. custody in November 2025 to face federal charges.

U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey sentenced her to 58 months' imprisonment and ordered her to pay $8,340,647.46 in restitution to affected financial institutions.

The FBI Dallas Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elise Aldendifer from the Fraud section prosecuted the case.

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