A Longmeadow resident has admitted to participating in a scheme that defrauded commercial lenders by submitting false rent rolls and forged lease agreements for properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Jeannette Norman, 57, pleaded guilty on September 19, 2025, in federal court in Springfield to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Sentencing is set for January 22, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni.
Norman was indicted along with her husband and co-defendant Louis R. Masaschi by a federal grand jury in May 2025. Masaschi pleaded guilty in April 2025. Norman’s sister, Christine Gendron, also admitted guilt in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to the case.
The trio operated several limited liability companies, including JLL Realty Developers, LLC (JLLRD), owning mainly commercial properties across Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Gendron served as both a certified public accountant and financial manager for JLLRD.
Between May 2016 and May 2019, prosecutors said Masaschi, Norman and Gendron worked together to secure loans from financial institutions using fraudulent financial information such as fake rent rolls and forged leases. After obtaining the funds, their companies made little or no payments on the loans and eventually defaulted. The fraudulent activity involved $62 million in loans and resulted in more than $20 million in losses for lenders.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and fines up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Each count of wire fraud could result in up to thirty years imprisonment, three years supervised release and fines up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today.” “Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Caroline Merck of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case.”
