In a heart-wrenching tale unfolding in Houston, the Kelley family is wrestling with the aftermath of what they report as a fraudulent scheme that led to their family home, passed down since the 1960s, being stolen and demolished. According to Click2Houston, the loss has compounded in calling for criminal charges against one Jerry Gurley, whom they accuse of forging signatures and leveraging a dubious title company to facilitate the deed scam.
The family's attorney, Jacob Scholl, pinpointed Patriot Title Company as a hotspot for questionable real estate dealings. "Patriot Title was the title company that you would go to if you wanted to do something fraudulent or you wanted to commit forgery or do anything fraudulent with real estate," he claimed in a statement obtained by Click2Houston. The alleged deed fraud has devastated the family, leaving them without their home, which was reportedly bulldozed by a third party.
Deed fraud, as broken down by FOX59, involves the illegal transfer of property titles, often through quitclaim deeds, which while designed for simplicity, leave a gaping vulnerability that scammers exploit. With a rising tide of real estate fraud reported—from 2019 to 2023, 58,141 victims reported losses of $1.3 billion—homeowners are urged to take preventative measures such as regular monitoring of property records and setting up fraud alerts where possible.
Vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly or those whose properties might be foreclosed or have liens, are particularly at risk. And while the Kelley family has seen some semblance of justice with a civil judgment against Gurley, Vanessa Voldbakken persists in her resolve. "This guy has swindled enough people -- why can’t he be held accountable?" she told Click2Houston, signifying a gap between civil remedies and the criminal accountability they seek.
Homeowners, heed the warning: prevent deed fraud by safeguarding personal information, enrolling in property fraud alert services if available, and seeking legal counsel when faced with real estate documents. The FBI warns that unexpected mail or sudden utility issues could be signs of deed fraud—a crime that can steal your home and history without even breaking a lock.
