Albuquerque Man Suspected Of Hijacking Vacant Homes In Foreclosure Faces More Heat From Cops

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Albuquerque Journal reports:

• An Albuquerque man accused of illegally assuming ownership of several homes and renting them out is now in trouble for allegedly having stolen items taken from at least one of the properties.



• A search warrant led police to the items after Shaun Anaya, 35, was arrested on March 13 for allegedly trying to cash altered money orders at a check-cashing business on Coors NW. Anaya told police the money orders were from tenant who rents one of his homes. He said he did not know exactly who they were from because he rents out a lot of properties through his company, Mt. West Investment Group LLC, which he said he runs from his home on San Patricio SW, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. He said he had to check his records to determine who wrote the money orders.



• Police were already working on other cases involving Anaya, who also owns Olive Tree Property Management, according to a search warrant affidavit.

***

• Police were contacted by several people about Anaya allegedly illegally assuming ownership of several properties that he had no legal claim over and renting out these properties. The renters were forced to vacate the properties when the fraud was discovered. Anaya would enter the residences and change the locks before renting them, the affidavit states.



• Most of the properties Anaya would take possession of were in the process of foreclosure and located in southwest and northwest Albuquerque. In one case, Anaya impersonated the homeowner and signed a lease agreement for a house that was being sold, according to the affidavit. The parties were due to close on the property within a month from the time that Anaya leased the residence, the affidavit reads.

For the story, see Stolen Items Allegedly Found in Home of Man Accused of Illegally Renting Out Southwest ABQ Properties.