Nationwide — Sam Cormier, an 84-year-old African American man from Houston, Texas, was shocked when he found that eight of his totally paid-off properties have been now not beneath his title. He says his ex-partner, who’s 30 years youthful, stole them and took out a $1 million mortgage utilizing cast deeds.Cormier’s nightmare began in 2022 when he acquired a lease discover for considered one of his personal properties. Confused, he known as the quantity on the letter and was instructed the property now belonged to an organization. He instantly acknowledged the corporate title — it matched his former associate’s final title.
In line with Cormier’s pal Kevin Williams, the girl used all eight property deeds, value over $1.1 million, as collateral to safe a lump sum mortgage. Quickly after, the properties have been auctioned off to a number of patrons.
Cormier says he by no means licensed the transactions and believes the deeds have been cast. He additionally claims the girl had entry to a notary, which can have helped her course of the paperwork extra simply.
“I misplaced my cash, I’m dropping my voice, I’m dropping my well being. It’s actually laborious. That is traumatic,” he instructed Click2Houston.
Attorneys warn that it’s surprisingly simple to file a deed in Harris County. Anybody with a notarized doc and about $10 to $20 can document a brand new property deed. They advocate owners verify their information on-line not less than twice a 12 months and bodily examine their properties to keep away from falling sufferer to fraud.
Cormier continues to combat for what he says was his life’s funding. Houston police have accomplished their investigation, and prosecutors might quickly press fees. A civil case can be pending towards the lender who authorised the disputed mortgage.
