Three Charged In Theft Of Seven Homes From Detroit-Area Seniors

In Detroit, Michigan, The Detroit News reports:

• Calling them "heartless and cruel", Wayne County officials announced charges against three men accused of swindling three senior citizens out of $600,000 through deed fraud and identity theft.

Charged in the felonies are:

• Paul Rhodes, 35, of Novi (being sought by cops, faces seven counts of fraud, money laundering and larceny by conversion and faces up to 10 years in prison);
• Nelson Sumpter, 42, of Pittsfield Township (41 felony counts; including uttering and publishing, forgery, false pretenses over $20,000, identity theft, larceny by conversion and money laundering - can face up to life in prison as habitual offender); and
• Omar Sumpter, 35, of Sterling Heights ( four counts of identity theft, money laundering, and false pretenses - faces up to 10 years in prison).

The lead prosecutor in the case explained how the swindle worked:

• "They would claim to be real estate professionals who help homeowners to sell their property to potential investors. They tell the home owners that they need their signature to line up investors. They then copy or scan the signature to grant themselves power of attorney. Then they sell the house and keep the money. The victim not only doesn't receive any money, they also lose their home."

According to the prosecutor, the three victims (all of Detroit) included a 72 year old woman, a 76-year-old woman, and a 66-year-old man who lost five homes in the swindle. For more, see 3 accused of swindling homes from seniors.

See also, Wayne County Prosecutor Press Release (Wayne County Deed Fraud Task Force) - Prosecutor, Register of Deeds, and Wayne County Sheriff Announce New Identity Theft and Deed Fraud Charges.

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Last November, a media story from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reported on similar problems with deed theft in that city. To get the attention of a couple of Pennsylavnia political heavyweights, an investigative reporter at a local television station did a story where she went out and "stole" the homes of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House John Perzel using phony deeds. To see the looks on their faces when the investigative reporter showed them she was the new owner of their homes, see Fake Deeds Steal Homes (NBC 10 - Philadelphia).

To read the online story, see Investigators: Homes Stolen With Fake Deeds.

Go here , go here , and go here for other posts on elder financial abuse.

Go here for other deed theft posts. deed theft zorro yak elder financial abuse