HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A Harris County woman has been captured on camera signing documents to sell a piece of land, despite a judge’s order to cease all paperwork related to properties she allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
The surveillance video was captured May 22 and shared exclusively with KPRC 2 News, appearing to show Alba Martinez signing a contract to sell the property in the Acres Homes neighborhood to a land acquisition company.
Martinez and her husband, Jarin, are accused of filing numerous fake documents and falsely claiming ownership of properties, which they then sold without the knowledge of the actual owners, according to a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Attorney’s Office in April.
A judge has signed a temporary injunction in the case, aiming to cease all fraudulent activity.
Based on two previous instances in which she’s accused of violating the court order, including one caught on camera by KPRC 2 News at the county clerk’s office, the county is now seeking to hold Alba Martinez in contempt of court.
The couple is alleged to have fraudulently transferred at least 37 properties in Harris County into their names using forged documents and fake notarizations. Attorneys estimate they’ve made tens of thousands of dollars through the scheme.
May 22 attempted land sale
Surveillance footage shows Martinez in a conference room in West Houston, signing a contract to sell a piece of land on Knox Street in the Acres Homes neighborhood to Sasser Land Group.
The land was owned by a couple who passed away and then it was passed down to their heirs, according to court records.
But using an alleged fraudulent warranty deed and affidavit of heirship, the Martinezes have claimed ownership.
Kenneth Sasser, who runs the land acquisition and sales company, said they sent a mass text seeking new potential properties and heard back from Alba Martinez about the Knox Street property.
“She kind of framed it as she was strapped for cash, that she was going to lose her property,” Sasser said, describing the transaction initially as ordinary. “She claimed that she was behind on her taxes.”
Martinez initially sought $25,000 for the property, which Sasser found to be a red flag because they believed the property was worth a lot more.
They ended up agreeing on a price of $132,000 and he said Alba Martinez signed the contract, after claiming she inherited the property. She had the warranty deed, chain of title, and even a receipt showing she had paid $1,000 in recent property taxes.
However, after visiting the property, speaking with neighbors, and looking up past news coverage of the Martinezes, Sasser and his team discovered that the property was one of many that Martinez and her husband are accused of falsely claiming ownership of after filing fraudulent documents.
Lawsuit background
The Harris County Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit against the couple in April, alleging they targeted cash buyers, often those who do not speak English or understand complex real estate transactions, and sold some properties they didn’t own.
After the judge’s order to halt fraudulent filings, only KPRC 2 News found Alba Martinez at the county clerk’s office attempting to file more deeds, including at least two that investigators now claim were forged. She was turned away when staffers realized who she was and the pending legal action.
An attorney assisting Alba Martinez expressed disbelief upon learning from the county that she had violated the court’s orders.
“Oh Hell No!!!!!! I cannot believe she went against my orders.. UGH!!!!!!!,” attorney Joe Hernandez wrote in an email to the county attorney’s office, according to court records.
Reached by phone on Wednesday, Hernandez said he doesn’t represent the Martinezes in the civil matter as he usually handles criminal defense.
In a phone call with Sasser’s team on May 30, Alba Martinez finally alerted them to her situation with Harris County.
Speaking in Spanish, she claimed that the news had defamed her and asserted that Harris County was not recognizing an inheritance from her late stepfather, which she claims entitled her to the properties.
However, attorneys have stated in court filings that there is no supporting evidence for her claims.
Sasser said he’s glad that his team conducted thorough research, allowing them to avoid potential financial losses and legal complications.
“We were going to be not only out money but, you know, involved in future lawsuits,” he said. “It could have damaged the reputation of my business.”
He described Martinez’s actions as “ruthless and heartless,” emphasizing the need for accountability.
“What I hope happens is that either ... she gets arrested, she’s not able to do this, because obviously the active lawsuits aren’t enough,” Sasser said. “I want to make sure that all the future people that she’s going to try to scam gets put to a halt.”
Sasser’s company has filed a report with the Houston Police Department.
While no charges have been filed yet, criminal investigators are examining the case.
On the civil side, attorneys have requested that a judge find Martinez in contempt of court and impose fines based on her actions at the clerk’s office and another unrelated property incident. It’s unclear so far how the activity caught on surveillance video could contribute to potential sanctions.
KPRC 2 News will continue to provide updates on this story.