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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man accused of accepting cash for Hazleton properties he didn&#8217;t have authority to sell was hit with a federal wire fraud offense Wednesday and is prepared to plead guilty to the charge, according to documents filed in federal court.</p><p>Ignacio Beato, 46, agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from wire fraud, according to a plea agreement filed with the complaint Wednesday. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.</p><p>The charges allege that between December 2013 and March 2015, Beato identified foreclosed and Federal Housing Administration properties in the Hazleton area and sold them despite not being authorized to do so. Cell phones were allegedly used to arrange purchases with potential buyers in other states.</p><p>Beato and his co-conspirators, whom the charging documents do not identify, kept money from the sales for their own personal use in the amount of $751,082, the charges allege. The plea deal calls for full restitution.</p><p>Beato, meanwhile, also faces felony theft and forgery charges in county court. Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis did not immediately return a message seeking comment on whether her office was still pursuing the charges.</p><p>In February 2016, U.S. Marshals apprehended Beato at an apartment complex in Seminole County, Florida, after he failed to appear on the charges.</p><p>He was originally apprehended in Orange County, Florida, after Pennsylvania State Police secured a warrant for his arrest in November 2015. A second warrant was issued for Beato&#8217;s arrest after he failed to appear for a January 2016 court hearing, authorities said.</p><p>Records show Beato is being held at the Lackawanna County Prison on $1 million bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_web1_TTL032216Beato1-1-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_web1_TTL032216Beato1-1-3.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL032216Beato1CMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ignacio Beato is shown at a previous court appearance in Hazleton. He will plead guilty to a wire fraud offense for selling properties in the Hazleton area he did not have the authority to sell, c0urt documents say. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL032216Beato1CMYK.jpg</photo1><caption1>Ignacio Beato is shown at a previous court appearance in Hazleton. He will plead guilty to a wire fraud offense for selling properties in the Hazleton area he did not have the authority to sell, c0urt documents say. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hazleton real estate fraud suspect Ignacio Beato hit with federal charge