Man labeled 'economic outlaw' sentenced to six years in jail

A Fort Lauderdale federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Broward County man prosecutors labeled an 'economic outlaw' to six years in prison for using fraud to purchase several expensive houses in Southwest Ranches. U.S. District Judge William Zloch sentenced Lazaro Villalba, 37, who pleaded guilty to fraud in February, after hearing testimony from others who admitted to taking part in the fraudulent real estate deals in 2003 and 2004. A Haitian immigrant recruited to pose as a home buyer said Villalba and partner Henry Quintero-Lopez paid her $30,000 to sign papers and appear at the closing for a $750,000 home on Southwest 56th Street in Southwest Ranches. Michelle Volcy of Sunrise said the federal government ultimately seized the $30,000 and sent her tax bills for more than $20,000 resulting from the home's sale.