Harris County has been addressing a complex deed fraud case that has now been resolved. The case, involving over 40 properties, led County Attorney Christian D. Menefee to announce a court ruling restoring the properties to their rightful owners. The scheme involved a Houston couple using forged documents to fraudulently claim ownership of the properties.
The saga first surfaced six months ago when artist Mike Scranton discovered his intention to sell a lot in Houston's Independence Heights was thwarted by a shocking revelation. His realtor uncovered that the land he had owned for over a decade was no longer in his name but had been transferred to someone else through fraudulent means. As reported by ABC13, Scranton's attorney, Dennis McQueen, was contacted by Alba Martinez, the woman at the center of the allegations, who had offered to return the land and cover $10,000 in legal fees.
McQueen's broader investigation revealed 39 more properties suffering from similar fraudulent interference. This stream of discovery prompted the Harris County Attorney's Office to file a civil lawsuit against Martinez and her husband. McQueen told ABC13, "I've never seen anybody do this many properties with made-up buyers, made-up notaries, made-up sellers." He revealed how Martinez was "selling to people, real people, taking real money, and leaving them property they didn't own."
Following Martinez's absence from court hearings, a default judgment was issued which facilitates the return of every one of the properties, pending some final paperwork. McQueen credited the media coverage by ABC13 for initiating actions that led to the County Attorney's lawsuit and subsequent repossession of the lands. "It was y'all (ABC13) that put this thing together that led the County Attorney to file a lawsuit. But I think it's great that all these people are getting their property back," he said.
Despite the extensive nature of the property fraud, neither Martinez nor her husband have faced criminal charges at this point. It remains to be seen whether the Harris County District Attorney's Office will opt to escalate the matter before a grand jury, as detailed by KHOU.
