A Darien woman was indicted Thursday for her alleged role in a scheme to illegally obtain at least 35 mortgages, resulting in $16.2 million in fraudulent loans for the purchase of property in Chicago and Country Club Hills, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced Monday.

Marguerite Elise Dixon-Roper, 46, an attorney who also goes by “Elise Dixon,” was charged with one count of mail fraud and two counts of bank fraud for her suspected role in the plot, the release said. 

Dixon-Roper is accused of recruiting property buyers between 2005 and May 2008 and representing them during the closing process knowing they weren’t legitimately qualified for loans, according to the indictment.

Along with three other defendants, Dixon-Roper fabricated information about property buyers’ “income, employment, financial condition, source of down payments and intention to occupy the property” on loan applications and supporting documents, the release said. 

Loan originator Hakeem Rashid, 39, who used to live in Chicago and now lives in Miami; mortgage broker Kareem Broughton, 39, of Chicago; and loan processor Jada Elaine Lucas, who also goes by “Sophia Youssef,” 52, of Chicago, were also charged with various counts of bank and mail fraud.

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As part of the scheme, the indictment said Dixon-Roper directed money supposedly held in escrow during the closing process to herself and Rashid. She also received payment for her services as an attorney during these transactions, according to the indictment. 

She and the other defendants are also accused of purchasing properties and refinancing their own existing mortgages without being legitimately qualified for loans, the release said.

If convicted, Dixon-Roper faces up to 30 years in prison, as well as a maximum $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.

Dixon-Roper is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.