HOUSTON – A Houston woman, already under court order to stop filing fraudulent property documents, was captured only by KPRC 2 News cameras getting turned away from transferring another deed Wednesday at the Harris County Clerk’s Office, highlighting an ongoing real estate fraud investigation that has allegedly victimized dozens of property owners.
Alba Martinez and her husband Jarin Martinez, who do not operate as a business, face accusations of orchestrating a sophisticated real estate theft scheme involving at least 37 properties, according to a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Attorney’s Office.
The couple allegedly forged at least 79 documents and fraudulently claimed ownership of properties before selling them to unsuspecting buyers. The real property owners often didn’t know about the transfer activities.
“It requires a little bit of sophistication, but in the end, because of the system that we use to record deeds where you’re sort of relying on people to be honest brokers, right, you’re relying on notaries to do their jobs, and you’re relying on people to not forge deeds. Unless someone catches you, it’s not all that hard,” said Jonathan Fombonne, Harris County Deputy County Attorney. “The deeds, of course, are what you have to show to say you own the property to unsuspecting people, and especially a lot of people who don’t speak English.”
The couple is estimated to have made tens of thousands of dollars off the scheme, Fombonne said, but they have not been criminally charged.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed an investigation is underway for possible criminal charges.
Family Property Stolen Through Forged Documents
Jamie Hartley discovered her family’s generational property had been sold without their knowledge when she noticed a new fence going up at the house on Irby Street in the Acres Home neighborhood in 2023.
“To see it in this condition, it is extremely hurtful,” Hartley said after not having rights to it for the last two years. “It meant everything to us. All of their belongings and everything from like my grandmother’s pictures, family memorabilia, everything was in there.”
The home is currently overgrown with weeds along with damage to the roof and windows.
The property, which Hartley inherited after her father and uncle’s passing, was unknowingly sold by Jarin Martinez for $53,000 through forged signatures on deed documents, according to court records.
“It’s been completely frustrating,” Hartley said. “This was something that we did not have planned. Me and my brother came just to check the mail, just to check the mail. We saw that there was a fence, and we see workers working on the house, pulling stuff out, so we’re like what’s going on? We haven’t hired you. Who are you? How did you get on the property?”
The aftermath has been devastating as Hartley and her brother had to file their own lawsuit, which has already cost thousands, to fight to get their family property back.
“We have to basically be standing in court as if we are the ones that’s lying or we are ones that actually don’t own the property when in fact we do,” Hartley said. “It’s been completely frustrating and it’s been time consuming for sure.”
Hartley hopes to get the property back in her name so eventually she can rebuild there with her brother and keep the property in the family.
Widespread Fraud Operation
Records show county investigators discovered the operation used fraudulent notary stamps, with at least one notary being completely fictitious.
The lawsuit filed last week accused the couple of fraud and deceptive trade practices, including specific allegations of targeting cash buyers who lack real estate transaction expertise and have limited English proficiency.
A judge signed a temporary restraining order which essentially blocks them from filing any fraudulent documents.
Legal Battles and Ongoing Investigation
When confronted at the County Clerk’s Real Property Records office on Wednesday, Alba Martinez declined to comment extensively about the lawsuit, stating only that her lawyer was getting everything in order and that she didn’t speak English very well.
She was there filing a deed to transfer a property to someone else, which was transferred to her in 2015, but staff turned her away because of the court order.
Investigators believe there could be additional victims, and they are continuing to dig for more.
While the county’s civil lawsuit aims to stop the alleged fraud, it’s not clear yet if they’ll be able to get restitution for victims, who may still need to hire private attorneys to reverse wrongful deed transfers.