A Dorchester man convicted in a federal court for his role in a massive mortgage fraud scheme was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail this week. Daniel Appolon, 23, was part of a ring that prosecutors say conducted 21 bogus real estate deals in Dorchester, South Boston, Hyde Park and other communities between May 2005 and June 2006. Appolon was a recruiter for the ring, convincing people to serve as "straw" purchasers on properties.

Five other people have also been convicted in the schemes, which involved "the use of inflated purchase prices and documents containing false statements about purchase price, borrower income, employment, or intent to reside in the property." The mortgages on all of the properties were defaulted upon and nearly all went into foreclosure, according to federal prosecutors.