A Darien woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the role federal officials say she played in a $16.2 million mortgage fraud, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Samborn said. 

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

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. The scheme resulted in at least 35 fraudulent loans.

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 indictment said. 

Dixon-Roper was released Wednesday on $100,000 bond, Samborn said. Her next status hearing is scheduled for June 20. 

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