Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee Secures Judgment Returning 40 Properties in Forgery Scheme
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee announced that his office has secured a final default judgment against a Houston couple accused of forging legal documents to falsely claim ownership of dozens of properties across Harris County. The ruling returns 40 homes to their rightful owners, marking a major milestone in the fight against deed fraud and real estate forgery.
The judgment stems from a lawsuit filed in April 2025, which outlined the way the couple carried out a widespread forgery scheme impacting dozens of Houston-area properties. The scheme involved forging paperwork in order to transfer ownership into their names, victimizing homeowners and deceiving unsuspecting buyers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“We are incredibly glad to see these properties being returned to their rightful owners. It’s a scenario that never should have happened, but I am glad that my office was able to advocate for these victims and fight for the best outcome,” said County Attorney Menefee. “When people work their whole lives to buy a home, they should never have to worry that someone will steal it on paper. This ruling restores what was taken and sends a message: we will not let people exploit our neighbors here in Harris County.”
The office launched Scam Free Harris County last fall to educate the public, fight scams, and create stronger protections for consumers. The initiative has already connected dozens of residents with resources and led to various investigations of consumer and deed fraud.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by this or a similar property fraud operation can file a report with the Harris County Attorney's Office at ScamFreeHC.com.