web1_TTL052717judes.harrisburg.jpg

St. Jude students tour State Capitol

web1_TTL052717zavacki.priest.jpg

Father Zavacki to celebrate 60th anniversary

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Accused Hazleton real estate cheat Ignacio Beato pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to bilking home buyers out of more than $750,000 in sales he wasn&#8217;t authorized to make.</p><p>Beato, 46, pleaded guilty to a felony wire fraud charge at a hearing before U.S. District Judge James M. Munley. The judge set sentencing for Aug. 31. Beato faces up to 10 years in prison.</p><p>Charging documents allege that from December 2013 to March 2015, Beato bilked his victims out of $751,082 through the sale of Hazleton area properties he wasn&#8217;t authorized to sell. He and his unidentified co-conspirators allegedly used cellphones to set up some of the deals with buyers in other states.</p><p>Beato was 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>U.S. Marshals apprehended Beato a month later at an apartment complex in Seminole County, Florida.</p><p><ins>For other local crime stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/crime" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL032216Beato1CMYK-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ignacio Beato, right, is led into a hearing in March. He pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges Friday in Scranton. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL032216Beato1CMYK-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ignacio Beato, right, is led into a hearing in March. He pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges Friday in Scranton. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></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>

Real estate cheat Ignacio Beato pleads guilty to wire fraud