Judge Kimba Wood
Rankins was an accomplice in a racketeering enterprise involving, among other things, fraudulent real estate transactions. In 2002 he was convicted of conspiring to commit mail, bank and wire fraud, two counts each of mail and wire fraud, and one count of fraud against the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He acted as a straw purchaser for two properties, financed by fraudulent mortgages, subsequently sold to secondary mortgage companies at inflated values. Rankins was released from prison in May 2008. District court denied 28 USC §2255 relief from sentencing, rejecting his claims the government presented false trial evidence, and failed to provide exculpatory and impeachment information. Rankins did not show that any defrauded company violated HUD procedures or that the government should have known of such violations. Nor did the evidence support his claim that the government failed to disclose Brady and Giglio information. In light of the record the court found no "reasonable probability" that the absence of HUD policies and procedures undermined the trial verdict, nor did Rankin explain how HUD enforcement actions and Justice Department criminal proceedings were material or exculpatory.
