Nationwide — Sam Cormier, an 84-year-old African American man from Houston, Texas, was shocked when he found that eight of his absolutely paid-off properties had 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 good friend Kevin Williams, the girl used all eight property deeds, price over $1.1 million, as collateral to safe a lump sum mortgage. Quickly after, the properties had been auctioned off to a number of patrons.
Cormier says he by no means approved the transactions and believes the deeds had 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 straightforward to file a deed in Harris County. Anybody with a notarized doc and about $10 to $20 can report a brand new property deed. They suggest owners examine their data on-line a minimum of twice a yr and bodily examine their properties to keep away from falling sufferer to fraud.
Cormier continues to battle for what he says was his life’s funding. Houston police have accomplished their investigation, and prosecutors could quickly press fees. A civil case can also be pending towards the lender who permitted the disputed mortgage.
