D
istrict Attorney James Montoya warned El Pasoans to remain vigilant against scammers as a man was sentenced to 21 years in prison for operating a real estate scam, stealing over $500,000 from nearly 70 victims. Montoya emphasized that while violent crimes receive top priority, his office is also committed to aggressively pursuing white-collar crimes, particularly those involving elder abuse and exploitation.

    The scammer, Victor Bernard Dennis Jr., operated by fraudulently transferring property titles and deeds into his name, deceiving potential buyers, and stealing their life savings. He used YouTube videos to learn how to commit the scams and targeted out-of-town or deceased homeowners, as well as U.S. military service members who needed to sell their homes.

    Dennis' scheme involved 16 houses, with eight falling into foreclosure, and he admitted to accepting money from buyers who thought they were purchasing the properties. He would then keep most of the monthly mortgage payments for himself, occasionally forwarding some to the original mortgage or bank to avoid foreclosure.

    Montoya's warning comes as real estate scams and other scams are on the rise in El Paso and throughout Texas. Dennis' case is just one example of a larger problem, with multiple individuals believed to be engaging in similar schemes across the state.

    To protect themselves from such scams, residents are advised to use licensed real estate professionals, insist on title searches and policies through licensed title companies, and call law enforcement immediately if they suspect wrongdoing. Anyone who encountered or conducted business with Dennis is asked to contact the El Paso District Attorney's Office White Collar Unit at 915-273-3542 or report it to local law enforcement.