ST. LOUIS – A man on Thursday admitted conspiring to steal at least 14 properties in St. Louis and St. Louis County by filing fraudulent deeds.
James L. Townes Jr., 51, of Berkeley, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a conspiracy charge. Townes admitted that beginning as early as Sept. 25, 2018, he began filing fraudulent deeds in St. Louis and St. Louis County on properties that belonged to others. The filings falsely claimed that Townes or his relatives had purchased the properties. Townes and his co-defendant, Charnay Bartlett, used fraudulently obtained notary seals to “authenticate” the forged signatures of the true owners of the properties.
Townes and Bartlett transferred at least 14 properties to Townes, his companies or his friends and family, his plea agreement says. Townes admitted that his scheme involved the use of the names of 10 or more individuals and…
These frauds exploit emotional vulnerability and trust rather than technical weaknesses.
- Romance Scams: Scammers build long-term online relationships with victims, eventually fabricating a “crisis” (medical emergency, legal trouble, or travel costs) that requires the victim to send money.
- Pig Butchering: A hybrid scam where the criminal builds a romantic or platonic relationship to eventually “tutor” the victim in a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment.