90.7 WMFE and 89.5 WMFV are Central Florida's primary provider of NPR programming and Classical Music. Part of the community since 1965, providing quality national and local news and programming. We inspire and empower all Central Floridians to discover, grow and engage within and beyond their world.
Support for 90.7 WMFE is provided by

Central Florida News


Lee Farkas, convicted exec with Ocala’s Taylor, Bean and Whitaker, released from prison

by Matthew Barakat ( The Associated Press)

The Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. Photo: Joe Byrnes


A mortgage industry executive responsible for one of the largest fraud cases prosecuted after the U-S financial crisis a decade ago is being released from federal prison in Sumter County on compassionate grounds.

This mug shot of Lee Farkas was taken following his arrest in June 2010. Photo: MCSO

Sixty-eight-year-old Lee Farkas sought release from Coleman because he is susceptible to the coronavirus.

He has served nine years of a 30-year sentence.

Farkas was chairman of the Ocala-based mortgage giant Taylor, Bean and Whitaker [WIT-uh-ker]. He was prosecuted for a $3 billion fraud scheme.

A federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia, ordered his release on Tuesday. The judge cited his age, health problems and a COVID-19 outbreak at the prison.

Prosecutors opposed his release.


Get The 90.7 WMFE Newsletter

Your trusted news source for the latest Central Florida news, updates on special programs and more.

GET THE LATEST
Stay tuned in to our local news coverage: Listen to 90.7 WMFE on your FM or HD radio, the WMFE mobile app or your smart speaker — say “Alexa, play NPR” and you’ll be connected.

WMFE Journalistic Ethics Code | Public Media Code of Integrity

TOP