Harris County officials are grappling with a property fraud scandal that some are calling unprecedented in scope. Alba and Jarin Martinez, a Houston couple, stand accused of forging legal documents to claim ownership of numerous homes across the county, as Houston Public Media reported. The alleged scheme has led to the couple wrongfully owning 35 properties, conducting their operation with nearly 80 forged or fraudulent records.
The KPRC 2 News obtained video evidence of Alba Martinez signing documents to sell a piece of land, even after a judge's order to stop all related activities, this has led the county to pursue a contempt of court case against her. Kenneth Sasser, of Sasser Land Group, described a deal with Martinez that faltered due to red flags regarding the property's ownership and value. "She kind of framed it as she was strapped for cash, that she was going to lose her property," Sasser told KPRC 2 News, about an initial transaction that seemed routine but ultimately raised suspicions.
This is not an isolated incident, as the couple allegedly targeted cash buyers, often individuals with limited English proficiency or real estate expertise, according to lawsuit documents obtained by Houston Public Media. They are alleged to have conducted these transactions by presenting themselves as rightful heirs to the properties, misleading buyers into thinking they had acquired clear title.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee called the scam "one of the most brazen property fraud schemes we've ever encountered in this office," in a statement obtained by Houston Public Media.
Speaking on the case, Sasser emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting how the fraudulent scheme threatened to tarnish his company's reputation and could have led to significant financial and legal problems, "We were going to be not only out money but, you know, involved in future lawsuits," he told KPRC 2 News.
