A lawyer who worked for the city of Detroit appeared in federal court today, indicted by a grand jury on charges of mail fraud and conspiracy related to the alleged forging of deeds to city properties.

John Dingle, 44, of Detroit, is to return to U.S. District Court Friday for his arraignment. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Dingle, who was a lawyer in the city of Detroit law department at the time of the alleged offenses in 2001 and 2002, was fired by the city in February 2003, city spokesman Matt Allen said.

According to the indictment, Dingle created fraudulent deeds to 14 residential properties that were part of the pool of homes involved in the 1999 collapse of MCA Financial Corp. He registered the fraudulent deeds and sold them as if they were genuine, the indictment alleges.

Dingle appeared without an attorney before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mona Majzoub. She appointed the Federal Defender Office to represent him.

How much money Dingle allegedly reaped through the scheme was not disclosed.