I
n a shocking case of real estate deception, a Houston artist's attempt to sell his property has unraveled a web of forged documents and suspicious transactions involving dozens of properties. Mike Scranton, a metal artisan, had owned a half-acre lot on Elkhart Street for 15 years, but when he listed it with realtor Tracy Brandon in January, she discovered that the land was no longer under his ownership.

    "It was like someone had pulled the rug from under me," Scranton said. "I had plans to build a metalworking studio, and suddenly I'm told I don't even own the property."

    Brandon's investigation revealed a trail of forged documents, including a fake warranty deed, that had been filed with the county without Scranton's knowledge or consent. The paper trail led her to Alba Martinez, who allegedly forged signatures, notary stamps, and other documents to transfer ownership of multiple properties.

    Martinez is listed as the owner of at least a dozen properties in the area, but many of these locations are empty lots with cars and trailers parked on them. When ABC13 visited some of these sites, they were met with suspicious behavior from individuals who quickly fled the scene.

    The Houston Police Department has filed a police report, and the Harris County Attorney's Office is investigating the series of real estate transactions on the civil side. "We've identified potentially 25 deed transfers that look highly suspicious," said Christian Menefee, Harris County Attorney. "We're looking at taking legal action to protect our community from this type of theft."

    Menefee believes that state laws need to be changed to prevent such cases in the future, including requiring notarizations to take place within the county building and having a third person witness transactions.

    Scranton remains optimistic that his property will be returned to him, and a civil suit has been filed against Martinez and another individual. The County Attorney's Office is also investigating whether other previous property owners may have fallen victim to similar scams.