For some Memphis homeowners, the worst-case scenario was not a leaky roof but paperwork they never signed. Federal prosecutors say that paperwork was deliberately faked, and it just earned a local notary nearly five years in federal prison.
A Memphis woman has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after admitting she notarized fraudulent quitclaim deeds that transferred homes away from their rightful owners. She pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025, to federal counts that included mail fraud, bank fraud, and making a materially false statement.
According to Action News 5, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said 41-year-old Shaneika Seymore will serve time in federal prison for her role in the scheme. Court records reviewed by prosecutors show the deeds were filed with the Shelby County Register of Deeds using fraudulent signatures, and that at least one homeowner had already died before a purported transfer was signed in their name.
How investigators say the scheme worked
Investigators say Seymore notarized quitclaim deeds that shifted title from true homeowners to middlemen, who then sold or flipped the properties to unwitting buyers. In an earlier case filing, Seymore was described as having “notarized five quit claim deeds,” and surveillance in that reporting showed her cashing thousands of dollars from transactions, according to Action News 5.
The basic playbook, authorities say, was simple but devastating: fraudulent signatures on official-looking deeds, a notary seal to make everything appear legitimate, and quick flips to buyers who had no idea the paperwork was rotten.
Title fraud is a growing problem
Cases like this are part of a broader rise in deed and title fraud in Tennessee, which has pushed advocates and county offices to call for stronger safeguards and faster notification systems. AARP Tennessee has outlined steps that counties and homeowners can take to detect and limit deed fraud, saying that fraud alerts and consumer education help catch problems early, according to AARP Tennessee.
In plain terms, that means watching your paperwork as closely as you watch your bank account.
What can homeowners do?
Local officials encourage residents to enroll in Shelby County’s free property-fraud alert so they receive immediate notice if a document is recorded under their name. The county’s program and its enrollment guidance were described in local reporting, which notes residents can call 901-222-8100 to sign up, per WREG via Yahoo.
For Memphis homeowners, that simple phone call could be the difference between catching a forged deed quickly or finding out after a stranger is already listed as the owner of their house.
