Detroit County Worker Faced Fraud Charges in Home Transfer
The following article was written by Reporter Holly Fournier of The Detroit News, August 24, 2016:
A Wayne County assistant deputy treasurer and another woman were arraigned on fraud charges after they allegedly conspired to illegally transfer ownership of a home belonging to a deceased woman.
Felicia Ann Tyler served as Wayne County Assistant Deputy Treasurer of Land Management in December 2015, when she allegedly worked with defendent Donna White to fraudulently acquired a home for White on the 600 block of Burlingame in Detroit's Woodward Village Neighborhood, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's office.
The home belonged to Edwina White, who died September 7, 2015, and was not related to Donna White, officlals said.
It is alleged that a quitclaim deed was recorded for the home on Dec. 18, 2015, a few months after the homeowners's death. The home then was transferred to Donna White's possession on January 7, 2016.
The situation was flagged by a woman affiliated with the Woodward Village Neighborhood Association, after she noticed the property was transferred after Edwina White's death. An investigation revealed that Tyler allegedly destroyed one quitclaim deed on December 18, 2015, and then created a new one bearing a fraudulent signature for Edwina White, officials said. She is accused of violating the Michigan Public Notary Act by notarizing the form without Edwina White's true signature.
Tyler was charged with one count of notary public violation, which is a four-year felony. She also was placed on administrative leave without pay from her position at the treasurer's office.
Donna White was charged with uttering and publishing a document affecting real property, a 14-year felony; forgery of a document affecting real property, a 14-year felony; and filing a fraudulent conveyance, a three-year felony.
Both women were arraigned by Magistrate Bari Blake Wood, who set $10,000 personal bonds. The defendants were due back in court for a probably cause conference and for a preliminary examination.
Both Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy warned that fraud has lasting repercussions, including loss of public trust in government.
"Fraudulent transfers of property have the potential to erode our neighborhoods," said Worthy. "It is important to report fraudulent activity occurring in Wayne County to the Register of Deeds' Fraud Hotline at 313-224-5869."
A Wayne County assistant deputy treasurer and another woman were arraigned on fraud charges after they allegedly conspired to illegally transfer ownership of a home belonging to a deceased woman.
Felicia Ann Tyler served as Wayne County Assistant Deputy Treasurer of Land Management in December 2015, when she allegedly worked with defendent Donna White to fraudulently acquired a home for White on the 600 block of Burlingame in Detroit's Woodward Village Neighborhood, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's office.
The home belonged to Edwina White, who died September 7, 2015, and was not related to Donna White, officlals said.
It is alleged that a quitclaim deed was recorded for the home on Dec. 18, 2015, a few months after the homeowners's death. The home then was transferred to Donna White's possession on January 7, 2016.
The situation was flagged by a woman affiliated with the Woodward Village Neighborhood Association, after she noticed the property was transferred after Edwina White's death. An investigation revealed that Tyler allegedly destroyed one quitclaim deed on December 18, 2015, and then created a new one bearing a fraudulent signature for Edwina White, officials said. She is accused of violating the Michigan Public Notary Act by notarizing the form without Edwina White's true signature.
Tyler was charged with one count of notary public violation, which is a four-year felony. She also was placed on administrative leave without pay from her position at the treasurer's office.
Donna White was charged with uttering and publishing a document affecting real property, a 14-year felony; forgery of a document affecting real property, a 14-year felony; and filing a fraudulent conveyance, a three-year felony.
Both women were arraigned by Magistrate Bari Blake Wood, who set $10,000 personal bonds. The defendants were due back in court for a probably cause conference and for a preliminary examination.
Both Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy warned that fraud has lasting repercussions, including loss of public trust in government.
"Fraudulent transfers of property have the potential to erode our neighborhoods," said Worthy. "It is important to report fraudulent activity occurring in Wayne County to the Register of Deeds' Fraud Hotline at 313-224-5869."
