DETROIT – Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy charged four people with deed fraud Tuesday morning, after they allegedly took more than $21,000 from 23 victims in an elaborate scheme.
It's alleged that James Webb, Geneva Edwards, Zarvelar Weems-Jones, and Trini El-Bey, would collect money ranging up to $5,000 from victims under the ruse that the four could provide ownership of vacant properties around the city. They called it the “Acceleration Tax Lien Foreclosure Process."
Once the fees were paid, the victims were given forged documents claiming ownership had been passed to the new holders. These fake documents would be illegally recorded with Wayne County Register of Deeds.
In some cases, it’s alleged that Webb would find the actual parties who owned the properties and inform them that he had taken possession of their home, only leaving if he was paid off.
The four defendants are being charged with 53 total felonies including larceny by false pretenses, extortion, and home invasion.
You can visit the Wayne County Register of Deeds website here.