Robert Amboree, a Houston property owner, recently made aware of an apparent property fraud that left him feeling violated.
Amboree, a retired Harris County Sheriff Deputy, purchased a lot near North Freeway and North Shepherd Drive 17 years ago. He aimed to invest in his childhood neighborhood.
“I want to do something for the community, build whatever kind of buildings we can build and make us a better community,” he said.
However, Amboree’s dreams took a turn when a realtor trying to buy the property informed him that the deed had been transferred to someone else—without his consent.
“I feel like I’ve been robbed,” he said. “My privacy being invaded because you think it like you’re safe.”
A Harris County Clerk Real Property search confirmed his fear. Documents show he purportedly sold the lot to Adam Epstein with Southwest Regency Holdings in 2023 for $100.
Amboree and his attorney, Keith Cothroll, shared documents with KPRC 2 confirming the transfer.
However, Amboree claims the signature on the documents were forged and don’t match his actual signature on his driver’s license and credit cards.
Amboree’s case is not an isolated incident. A recent investigation by KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry revealed that several property owners in Houston have experienced similar unauthorized deed transfers.
SEE ALSO: ‘Forged’ deed gets transferred back to intended parents defrauded in nationwide surrogacy scandal
The deeds have now been put back into their names with help from local attorneys Marianne Robak and Lori Hood, who discovered the suspicious deeds during an investigation for their lawsuit against Houston-based Surrogacy Escrow Account Management or SEAM and owner Dominique Side.
When contacted for comment, Epstein claimed to be a victim as well, noting that he is facing lawsuits related to multiple fraudulent transactions in Harris and Tarrant Counties.
“I have no property ownership, but somehow I’m getting sued for this quiet title sort of situation that, you know, filing was fraudulently done under a holding that I have no association with,” Epstein said in a phone interview with KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun. “I’ve been served by a plaintiff in Tarrant County. So, I guess I have more than one of these situations going on.”
Cothroll, Amboree’s attorney, explained that many homeowners remain unaware of the risks associated with property fraud.
He adds he’s worked on 10 similar cases.
“In order to get your property back, you’ve actually got to file a lawsuit and get a court order in order to switch property ownership back to who it’s supposed to be to,” Cothroll said.
A spokesperson for the Harris County Clerk’s office said they’re working on preventing this apparent fraud.
“The Clerk’s Office is a recording agency that, by statute, is mandated to accept property document filings without discrimination to the public,” the statement said. “In instances where we suspect a document is fraudulent, whether submitted electronically or in person, the case is provided to the District Attorney’s Office for review.”
Cothroll recommends property owners to keep track of their records. Check them regularly. He even suggests putting a ‘lis pendens’ on the property. It’s Latin for “suit pending.”
“It’s essentially a hold,” explained Cothroll. “So, if you ever sell it, everyone, everyone’s going to see, Hey, there’s something going on here.”
Harris County Clerk’s Office Statement
“The Clerk’s Office is a recording agency that, by statute, is mandated to accept property document filings without discrimination to the public. Per H.B. 1681, individuals filing property documents in Harris County have been asked to present an acceptable form of identification since June 19, 2015.
In instances where we suspect a document is fraudulent, whether submitted electronically or in person, the case is provided to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
We are currently exploring ways to mitigate these challenges. However, there is currently no application available that can be implemented to catch up with this type of activity before it happens. The laws that guide property transactions in Texas need to be strengthened by the legislature to allow the implementation of measures to eliminate this type of fraud.”
