Nationwide — Sam Cormier, an 84-year-old African American man from Houston, Texas, was shocked when he discovered that eight of his fully paid-off properties were no longer under his name. He says his ex-partner, who is 30 years younger, stole them and took out a $1 million loan using forged deeds.Cormier’s nightmare started in 2022 when he received a rent notice for one of his own homes. Confused, he called the number on the letter and was told the property now belonged to a company. He immediately recognized the company name — it matched his former partner’s last name.
According to Cormier’s friend Kevin Williams, the woman used all eight property deeds, worth over $1.1 million, as collateral to secure a lump sum loan. Soon after, the properties were auctioned off to several buyers.
Cormier says he never authorized the transactions and believes the deeds were forged. He also claims the woman had access to a notary, which may have helped her process the documents more easily.
“I lost my money, I’m losing my voice, I’m losing my health. It’s really hard. This is traumatic,” he told Click2Houston.
Attorneys warn that it’s surprisingly easy to file a deed in Harris County. Anyone with a notarized document and about $10 to $20 can record a new property deed. They recommend homeowners check their records online at least twice a year and physically inspect their properties to avoid falling victim to fraud.
Cormier continues to fight for what he says was his life’s investment. Houston police have completed their investigation, and prosecutors may soon press charges. A civil case is also pending against the lender who approved the disputed loan.