Going after those who prey on people, robbing them of their dreams of home ownership and peace of mind: that's a goal of members of the State Senate leadership, according to Senator John Sampson (D-Brooklyn), head of the chamber's Democratic Conference in Albany.

"We see it as a priority to go after those who engage in mortgage fraud, who are preying upon victims who simply want to own homes and live out a part of the American dream," said Sampson. "Far too many of these people take the money of immigrants and others in our City and state and do nothing for them."

That was why, he said, "working in conjunction with the Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, both he and State Senator Eric Adams (D), also of Brooklyn, we're trying to crack down on both real estate and immigration fraud.

"We were instrumental in giving a lump sum of money to the District Attorney's office to assist them in attacking mortgage and immigration fraud," said Sampson.

"Immigration may be a federal issue to be dealt with by the United States Congress and the executive branch in Washington, but it behooves us in the legislature to ensure that our constituents get the information and help they need to avoid becoming victims of fraud," he said. "These immigrants have children and they also have relatives who are citizens of our country and we are obligated to assist them, by providing a path to services offered by governmental entities that can assist them."