Another St. Louis resident loses property through Recorder of Deeds Office

For the second time, the You Paid For It team has found a case of a homeowner scammed out of their property with the help of the St. Louis Recorder of Deeds.
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[@calvinndallas3289]

It sounds like the Recorder Of Deeds should be investigated for possible participation in the scam. This couldn't happen without the direct assistance of someone in that office.

[@NotfromDetroit]

You have a good point! He might be in on this scam!

[@roamiblu1833]

This is EXACTLY what I just said. He knows what’s going on.

[@NotfromDetroit]

@@roamiblu1833 Right! He’s too laid back!

[@roamiblu1833]

@@NotfromDetroit And the sad part of it all is that this is being done by another Black person. We can't say, everyone is against us when we are so good at doing it against each other.

[@timberlogwood4026]

Exactly! Someone in that office is on the take. It was too obvious in the gentleman's case where the name was flip-flopped, and the signature didn't match. I hope they're caught and get at least twenty-five years if it's found to be a scheme. Issues like this will make you commit a crime. A license realtor did this to me a few years ago after I took my hard-earned money and bought a house at an auction for fifty thousand dollars. You'd be surprised to know how difficult it is to get it right even though it's obvious there's discrepancies.

[@DK-xo9py]

Why is it even an argument? If the deed transfer is fraudulent, the Recorder must be required to void it immediately, and the person who fraudulently signed the new deed should be charged with both grand theft and fraud. Right?

[@user-de7hl1wt4i]

Case cracked but I doubt it will happen they don't even prosecute cold blooded killers but will charge a person that defends themselves and give them 100 years welcome to St.louis

[@sharthun2009]

Makes sense to me.

[@kevinmach730]

I was thinking the same thing. If it were stolen property that I bought in good faith, it wouldn't be a discussion if it was proven it belonged to someone else- they would take it from me and return it to owner. Shouldn't be any different

[@rxwhat33]

Maybe in a country where laws are followed.

[@JRotten]

First you need the office to admit "they" made a mistake. That will never happen

[@jmar8507]

They need to void that false deed claim and give that man and that other woman back their property and stop giving the run around already!!

[@le_th_]

If the notary was a fake, the document isn't legal. They need to change the procedures for quit-claim deeds. They need verifications FIRST.

[@jerrymartin3965]

Incompetent government workers, or crooked, or both. Not even an apology. Arrogant.

[@chrisjackson9429]

They should have a 30 day wait on a quick claim deed to insure the rightful owner is on these documents

[@Gfysimpletons]

Look at Memphis…..Ya really think they care about, well, ANYTHING?

[@CrackHeadHuntersDrugDealer]

Democrats! They keep voting for corrupt trash democrats!

[@NotfromDetroit]

I didn’t hear no apology at all!

[@kpdvw]

aka democRATs....!

[@krobinson696]

"It's not our job" It's 100% their job to check the authenticity of the notarization of the document. They aren't checking anything from the way it sounds and they need to replace those employees in those positions.

[@Gfysimpletons]

It’s called LNS, a true disease in these communities!

[@cindyrush1204]

exactly

[@cr2lives]

The same thing is happening in many cities in Ohio.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

No reason why city can't instantly authenticate a sale or even squatter issue in this age of computers

[@cr2lives]

@@user-qr7ee2cp4y Correct. The question now becomes, "Why aren't state and local governments doing this?" It's been recommended several times in Ohio. The state legislature won't take the requests seriously.

[@queenb55]

WOW! Michael Butler how can you say you've done your job to a T when these families have lost their homes due to your office so-called doing your job to a T. 😡 How can you say it’s frivolous when these families have their homes stolen from them. Fix the issue, void the fraudulent documents, and give the rightful homeowner their home. Hmm, It sounds like the St. Louis recorder's office needs to be investigated

[@Mandy_XO]

The fact that the deed said he bought the entire house for $2000 would have raised flags to me, as well as both signatures being the same. Literally the most basic “errors” are not even caught.

[@Spirit-Survival365]

Michael Butler register of deeds NEED TO BE FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop ignoring criminal activity! Give that property back to the real owner.

[@-sstevens5444]

Fired...Fined...and Imprisoned!!!

[@blkimble]

He's probably in on it

[@missreynolds3637]

Institute for justice Pro Bono lawyers that would probably love nothing more than take on the corrupt city, they've done it before, with bogus fines and fees from city employees aka code enforcement placed on properties in CA and FL

[@Sidicas]

Absolutely. Anything shown to be invalid and doesn't stand up to basic scrutiny should be immediately voided and anything that comes after it that depends on it should be automatically voided as well. The fact that they are dragging their feet on such an obvious action means somebody in the deeds office is a partner in crime. By their action of allowing the fraudulant documents to become record and then inaction at voiding them after the evidence was provided, it is clear cut that they are assisting a criminal to commit a crime.

[@blkimble]

@@Sidicas The FBI should get involved. This is a federal crime

[@richardgrier8968]

When the Recorder of Deeds said it wasn't his job to check the authenticity of the documents, that reporter should then have asked "So, anybody with any fraudulent document can just come here and steal anyone's property at any time and there's nothing anyone can do about it, right? I could go right now and steal your property if I wanted to, right?"

[@em0jr]

That's exactly what I was thinking!

[@LuvMyCardiKids]

Oh there absolutely IS something that can be done about it and the reporter would have been doing a better job is they’d reported exactly what can be done, who is responsible for what, etc. What you do as the legal owner is post a cease and desist on the building as you are the legal owner. You call the police or sheriff and report the scam. A police report is crutial. When this happened to a property the company my daughter works for we learned that there is an entire department at the sheriffs office that deals with this type of fraud as it happens every day. Again, this also shows the importance of title insurance. If the person who fraudulently purchased the property from a scammer has title insurance then the insurance company has to reimburse the person who got scammed as the company didn’t do their due diligence in the title search it’s their responsibility to perform before they issue the insurance. Referencing the property my daughter was involved with, the FBI became involved because it was a ring that was under investigation and this was the first time they’d caught the scam quickly. They were able to track down the notary, the wholesaler, and the gal signing the deeds and we’re hoping that interviews with those ring members would lead them to the head of the ring. It was kind of fun hearing about it regularly, like having a ring side seat on a true crime show! Edit: I talked to my daughter and she said that to get the title issues fixed the prosecuting attorney gets involved. But the bottom line is that you, as the legal owner, have to have the work on the house stopped as soon as you discover it and immediately report it to the police or sheriff. Then you have to work with the sheriffs office and the prosecuting attorney on getting the title issues straightened out. It’s really a shame that the news station didn’t report truthfully on this issue. It would have really helped people if the reporter had outlined correctly who is responsible for what and what steps to take to resolve the issue rather than sensationalizing the story and implying people who are not at fault are at fault.

[@edbradley6815]

That’s exactly right, I’m in litigation now to win my mother’s house back.

[@angelandunicornkisses369]

Yep. Happened to me in Florida in Osceola county

[@leesvision]

Pretty much . how they do. In my case police and other local government officials are in on the theft too. So they figure you have no to turn to because they are all corrupt . In my case I've reported it the fbi several times nothing has been done

[@jackhills2440]

This is insanity. The Recorder should immediately fix the situation in both cases.

[@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n]

House title theft is becoming a serious problem. Something needs to be done about it.

[@user-zs6qf7ob6h]

So the Recorder of Deeds is a willful participant in corruption by signing off on theft. The real owners need to be compensated by the city and the thief goes to jail. It’s NOT a legitimate transaction if done by fraud. So the Recorder of Deeds needs to decide if he’s going to correct his “mistakes” or be a criminal participant and go to jail also.😊

[@user-tr8fs7lm8r]

Dollars to Donuts, someone at the clerks office is in on it.

[@johnleos1687]

I believe he made his decision because he is not in jail! Can anyone say "bribes, kickbacks, inside job" Submit. Quick Claim form with his address and he will have to accept it "They don't check authenticator"

[@kimpaige7865]

I agree.

[@magicalminty6203]

Screw that, he absolutely does NOT get to decide. He goes to jail, and the person replacing him corrects his fraud.

[@johnleos1687]

@@magicalminty6203 Yeah should be that way but nope! They don't have authority to investigate anything they are overpaid FILE GIRLS!

[@cinemabunny]

Imagine FOX 2 getting a Quitclaim deed on Michael Butler's house and serving him an eviction notice during the interview

[@LA-qw9yo]

Buya! Right back at him!!

[@dlbstl]

That would be awesome!

[@xlerb2286]

I suspect we'd be amazed at how quickly the register of deeds office would spring into action.

[@allisonlew4508]

That would be So Boss!

[@DCJNewsMedia]

Remove the Recorder of deeds for failure to carry out his lawful duties. It's a case of malfusions.and misfusions 😊 Fact . Automatically a action for removal from office and prosecute same

[@Noratheskindoc]

Disgusting. These thieves are going to get what's coming to them. There's no way they're not in on it. Someone's getting paid to put these transfers through.

[@djh4328]

So true and I believe that with my heart

[@mccainproservices]

We need the FBI involved. That's a felony.

[@Noratheskindoc]

@@djh4328 YES

[@Noratheskindoc]

@mccainproservices unfortunately I don't believe they'll help.

[@anthonymayes7513]

I’m so mad for this young man ,he’s dealing with it smarter than I would

[@stephenking3717]

They need to contact the attorney General of Missouri!

[@durandjohnson1321]

You took the word's out of my mouth.. I hope he gets justice!

[@vib.3969]

Really! He is totally useless. The MO AG doesn't care about the people of the state, only about pushing his MAGA agenda like his 2 useless predecessors.

[@carriecree1789]

Need Senator Hawley to get involved

[@karlrovey]

He's too busy planning to run for national office, putting on a show for MAGA, and trying to exceed the authority of his office.

[@stephenking3717]

@@karlrovey I'm sure. But the office was of help to me recently

[@jondoe406]

If the recorder of deeds doesn't care. The proper owner should just quick deed the property back to himself.

[@youtube_username_]

No, I'm sure that would be the one they'd notice.

[@joelrossell5124]

For $1.00!

[@jaybrandon1137]

I was sure about to but I just couldn't

[@misstriciaskitchen8640]

I love that idea.

[@ajvintage9579]

@@jaybrandon1137you’re a good man. I’m sorry this happened to you.

[@unknownwolfperson]

If it fails and is broken, then it must be replaced. Replace the Recorder of Deeds and make them accountable for their assistance in this financial crime.

[@TheSinfulO1]

So 60k documents per year is 164.4 documents per day. Divided by the number of employees that approve these documents. Yet they can’t slow down enough to briefly scan over the contents of each to ensure this type of thing doesn’t happen?! Fact of the matter is both of these ppl will need to file civil suits against the persons who approved the paperwork in their private capacity then against the office in their official capacity.

[@Widemouth1832]

As a lawyer I've actually had to deal with this several times of the city. And when you prove that it's fraudulent to them even through a court case they don't even care. It might be filled with a laziest most incompetent people I've ever met. The rot in the city is real. And then it's very difficult to get the city actually prosecute people who are committing fraud and lying on a document. It's literally a nightmare.

[@curtismay5542]

They're absolutely taking bribes to take people homes St Louis politicians are corrupt

[@freeinjesusrw]

I hate it here in St. Louis

[@antwandukes]

​@@freeinjesusrwI live in Detroit I recently took a trip to Mississippi I went through St Louis Missouri It seems like a beautiful city. I'm outside looking in but it didn't have a terrible vibe to it like some other cities.

[@tandemtransport7702]

​@antwandukes Saint Louis isn't terrible. It's just very racist and bias. This is one of the most Segregated Cities in America and one of the most Obese cities in America.

[@Widemouth1832]

​@@tandemtransport7702Thats a good idea until you see that the recorder of deeds clerks are primarily black, my client was black, and the person that tried to steal their property with a fraudulent affidavit was black, and the horrible prosecutor was black. I am a white guy, but I don't see a secret cabal of white haired guys in the Mayors office secretly planning on taking over the city by creating a deeply lazy and corrupt city government. This has everything to do with zero accountability and incompetence and nothing to do with race.

[@Food4thought1234]

Even if it was an “accident” how hard is it to revoke the new deed. I swear things are crazy in the world in terms of corruption and stupidity with property.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

he is in on it = yess sir he is the scam king pin ! shine a light on him !

[@chevy4x466]

A quitclaim deed on a piece of real estate should be scrutinized.

[@MomMom4Cubs]

It's a necessarily arduous task, with the intent of reducing, if not eliminating, title fraud. Fraudulent notary publics aren't super common, in the US. It's also usually more than just a couple people involved.

[@pampoovey3281]

I would think that Title companies would have insurance for this type of snafu.

[@teresayates8274]

Exactly!!

[@ShionWinkler]

This is happening all across the nation, and local governments don't care.

[@maatdei8127]

Sue every single person who is involved

[@chrismanning1171]

Stop the quick deeds and make a harder to transfer the deed.

[@bobroberts2371]

It is a QUIT CLAIM not QUICK ... A quit claim deed is a person giving up the title to the property. This is also used if there are two people on a deed and one wants off the deed.

[@dujuangreen5419]

@@bobroberts2371 Lol You're totally right about the type of deed. I think the poster is just trying to say make it more difficult for this type of fraudulent activity (theft) to occur.

[@Theywaswrong]

QUIT...Quit claim. Not quick claim. Good grief.

[@bobroberts2371]

@@Theywaswrong Even worse are the currently 120 people that pressed like on the original comment.

[@alexmckee4683]

In the UK we have a system of land registry but it takes so long to actually transfer a property that it's ridiculous (people are waiting for 9 months for the transfer to happen). It also doesn't actually provide as much protection as people think, there are ways to commit fraud still. It isn't the system of deeds and claims that is at fault, it's the shoddy practice. In this video they show that the quit claim deed wasn't witnesses by a third party but for some reason the recorder accepted it. Also there was evidence of fraud at the time of the recorder accepting it. I'd suggest an enhancement to the system is to (a) verify that the notary public actually exists [trivial in this day and age, they can use digital signatures to provide strong cryptographic protection against fraudulent use of a notary's credentials], (b) make the notary liable for fraudulent deeds that they notarize (easily covered with insurance) and (c) require that the witnesses be in good standing e.g. are homeowners or professionals that have something to lose if they prove witness a fraudulent deed. Finally having some kind of punishment or penalty in place for the recorder if they preside over frauds would also increase their vigilance.

[@brendaw.7597]

Sue the worthless and lazy people in the deeds recording office who are most likely in on the scam anyway . Hold these criminals accountable !

[@EroticOnion23]

Sue and get the suit toss out immediately... "We investigated ourselves and found nothing wrong"...😅

[@accuratealloys]

They have qualified immunity.

[@pear7828]

I have a feeling that each of those offices that they visited are all very friendly to each other. ...🤔IDK, it's possible most of them could've ran & got elected on the same ticket & same party or placed in office by their buddies. It probably won't investigate until an outside investigation like from the state or the federal government comes in, if they investigate at all. Suing might be their only option & It probably won't get resolved for months-to-yrs. ...By that time it may not be worth the investment the owners put in.

[@oooloo99]

Crime puts their OWNED people into office type positions. Both in and out of government Departments.

[@Veevslav1]

You cannot due to a ruling from the Supreme Court in the 1860's that established Sovereign Immunity. That immunity has transferred to State and City Governments unless someone has said you can sue them to hold them accountable. The legal system has failed the citizens and it provides no means to fix itself.

[@edwardknierim5899]

good job im glad and happy both of you got your homes back amen

[@DrLakeciaReddrick]

Hot mess!! I was a Real Estate Paralegal for 18 years. The Recorder of Deeds do have a lot of documents coming through, but the attitude he has is appalling. I don't see the problem, once the fraudulent activity is discovered they need to reverse property ownership. The transaction isn't legal😡😳

[@angelakimbrell1214]

CALL THE FBI !!!!! Have them investigate. They cleaned house here in Cleveland.

[@alanrogs3990]

There seems to be something very similar about these big cities and their leadership

[@neill392]

Not a federal crime. It's a state crime and should be investigated by state police.

[@charlesward8196]

The feebs are too busy chasing MAGA hats.

[@mikesixx7655]

​@@alanrogs3990something about their political leanings and skin color I just can't put my finger on it

[@TonyTiger-xg9cr]

Record of Deeds office 100% responsible for mistakes, not honoring the job or the money this man paid.

[@EyeSeeThruYou]

Preventable and unforgivable. I can't decide of this is case of internal corruption general ineptitude, understaffed and underfunded departments, or a failure to implement basic safeguards. The county where I reside registers property owning residents and provides a monitoring service. When a contractor I hired to replace my roof earlier this year applied for a permit, I got a notification and instructions to block that permit application if I suspected fraud. The same system should be in use everywhere, quite frankly.

[@shellone28]

There’s got to be someone on the inside clearing bogus paperwork for a kick-back. This level of incompetence is unthinkable. Patterns. Investigate the department.

[@cinemabunny]

I wish the reporter had asked Michael Butler "So now that you know, are you ok with being complicit in a felony fraud?"

[@ooze1982]

Just a bunch of paper pushers at the City Hall who can't even do their job correctly 🙄🤦‍♂️

[@Gfysimpletons]

Paper pushers? Yeah, no. Lazy bums collecting a check simply because they are UNDER-QUALIFIED for any position of power. It’s affecting thousands of communities throughout America. Major cities like New York, Chicago etc are experiencing this phenomenon. I wonder what the common denominator is? As nasty as this comment seems, it’s 100% factual. Good luck

[@chrisbelsito4231]

They’re there for a paycheck!! Sit for 8 hours and go home!! They don’t give a F about their job being done correctly!!!

[@tracypaxton1054]

Either lazy incompetence or he is actually in on it.

[@pink1536]

That guy needs to be fired. "It is not our job" YES IT IS

[@Thepriest39]

More reporters like this are needed.

[@HatePeopleforaReason]

It’s not our job to do our job

[@BigCrossVita]

😂

[@richardcurry7663]

This is the typical response from Allstate and government employees They work there nine to five job for 5 days a week and get their pension and don't give two s**** They set there on their butts and do nothing all day when you walk into a state or government office and you have to deal with a black woman or a white woman and they're mostly heavy set what's their attitude like seriously more of you people need to speak up about this stuff because these people are doing this stuff to us Americans and needs to be stopped If they're not qualified or able to do their jobs efficiently effectively and with some kind of urgency they need to be fired and find someone that will

[@deliveryguyrx]

Spoken like a true government 'employee'!

[@LuvMyCardiKids]

My daughter is the office manager of a property management company and this happened to one of the properties they manage! She discovered the transfer of ownership because the water bill at this unoccupied house all of a sudden doubled. She thought maybe a pipe had burst so she sent one of the maintenance guys over to check the house only to find that someone was working on the house. Investigation turned up the quit claim deed that had been filed transferring ownership of the property to a scammer. The scammer sold the house through another company to a flipper who thought he legally owned the house and started working on it. Her discovery eventually led to the uncovering of the scam ring and the involvement of the FBI.

[@angelandunicornkisses369]

That’s horrible. Sounds somewhat similar to my scenario. There needs to be regulations put into place on flipping companies, imho. I took a class just to get info on my situation and learned how deep it all goes. There needs to be protections against homeowners so that random strangers can’t access paperwork of their home. I had people approaching me, in said class, about selling my property to them, like it was orchestrated. What’s interesting is whom approached me, harassed me, followed me and how looking back, it was all connected by my neighbor and her associates/friends that lived in my city and other cities (where friends & family lived) and whom all I was followed by during that time. Son studied IT, did not work but miraculously ended up with 5 cars amongst my departure because they all, literally, tortured me out. Even watched her and her daughter kick my fence over. Same group of people even took over my old job location. It’s not rocket science to follow the dots, literally. I only wish the FBI would’ve gotten involved in my situation. Family/acquaintances from Chicago, Arizona, Florida meanwhile paperwork of said home, SS card, W-2’s all stolen from my home during all of this and randomly offered a job I worked at where a coworker told me her family was into real estate. Another part of the property was sectioned off and sold at auction for another family to, obviously, do a land grab. No coincidences. It’s sick and goes deep

[@LuvMyCardiKids]

@@angelandunicornkisses369 but it wasn’t the flipper who was the problem. It was the wholesaler and the scammer who filed the quit claim deed. The scammer was paying a woman to sign documents, no questions asked. He was also paying the notary to not ask questions either. That got him a quit claim deed without his name on it. Then he listed the house with a wholesaler he was in business with. The wholesaler charged an outrageous fee to the buyer on top of the price of the house. The wholesaler and the scammer split the profits. The scammer has the notary and random document signer involved in about 10 transactions and then gets another notary and document signer so it’s harder to track in the records.

[@Macachee]

*Quick

[@cer2299]

Why require a notary if you do not verify? Also, sounds like an inside job....

[@LuvMyCardiKids]

@@cer2299 you need to learn the job of a notary. The notary is to verify that the signature on the document is who it claims. So if the document has been notarized there is no reason for the recorders office to believe the document is fraudulent. If the document was not properly notarized it wouldn’t have been recorded. In these types of scams the notaries are usually part of the scam. Again, they are the criminals, not the recorders office. In the scam the property my daughter managed was involved in the notary and the person signing the quit claim deed were both paid a fee by the scammer. The scammer would use them for about 10 transactions and then get a new set of signers/notaries to try to hide the scam by not using the same name on too many transactions.

[@yseson_]

Frivolous?! Someone take this man's job

[@beesworld04]

WTH! This is incompetence at the highest level. Why are y’all there if it’s not your job! I’m livid for these people and I don’t live there. This should be completely unacceptable.

[@Anthonycapone8146]

Exactly, if it's not their job, whose job is it!? He needs to hire an attorney !

[@kevinmach730]

I'm sure I am not alone in being completely put off by smug attitude of the loser in the recorder of deeds office, acting like doing his job, is not his job. No one is asking you to be a detective, but there were all kinds of mistakes on this document -he is completely ok with just being a rubber stamp. Then why have your department at all? If he was this arrogant and dismissive with cameras rolling, I can only imagine how he was with the young man who was trying to investigate the issue originally.

[@jackwyatt1218]

Incompetence rising to the top and remains there!

[@spikefivefivefive]

What else would you expect from a quota hire?

[@mssoulsister2186]

This is happening too often!! They need to be investigated. 😡 How the hell they keep letting ANYONE come in and claim another person property? Micheal Butler should be investigated!!!!

[@vulcan2882]

... it's clear he's behind it. $$$$$$$

[@stevensmith8285]

Because they don’t check records😂

[@vib.3969]

It happens in. St. Louis County too

[@citizencoy4393]

@vib it is happening all over the US! Especially to elders and Afro Americans. Many don’t have the money to hire lawyers they just lose the property.

[@kimbok5971]

It's clearly more than just the lack of verification of the notary's signature. They apparently aren't verifying ANY signatures on the documents. Which IS their job. And since they are saying it is not their job, it sounds like maybe the Recorder of Deeds is in on the scam or getting a kickback. Shameful!

[@jasontodd8071]

Mr. Elliott Davis, thank you for shedding light on this!!!! I hope they get their properties back and he louse loses his job!

[@Peekul1]

Open season for fraudsters at the recorder of deeds. "We don't verify notaries. That's not our job." 🤣

[@davidlindgren7605]

hey, you, lazy bastards! Now that it's been proven the notary was a fake, how fast can you reverse the phony transaction that never should have happened! Duh!

[@thebabscat]

Exactly!! You think there was a rash of these before, wait until all the scumbags find out they won't be prosecuted.

[@DarthSailorMoo]

Do you not know what kind of a living hell that would be if register of deeds has to verify every notary? Not to mention the amount of taxes that would increase for the man power alone, if they could even get people hired? You wouldn't get your deed recorded till at least 5 years. That would be a wide open scam market for the prior owners.

[@thebabscat]

@@DarthSailorMoo You saw the video right?!? HUGE red flags, just take a look at the damn thing and look into it if it's fishy. SMH.

[@SilvaDreams]

Love his excuse of 60,000 a year.. my dude that's not a lot. That is maybe 230 a day.

[@Anothertominohio]

Anytime a deed is being transferred both parties need to be physically present. That would be a start.

[@JeffinTD]

And present verified identification.

[@lisab9541]

You can't do that if it's in an estate or something though.

[@Commonsensepreps]

That's what a notary is for which they proved the notary was a forgery, which should instantly nulify all the documents

[@joevoegeli4959]

Then real estate transactions would never get completed and ownership would be even more of a mess. Most real estate transaction happen at separate times for each party and generally closing will occur on a completely separate day as well. Plus, title companies handle the transactions, so that really won't work at all.

[@TheVsingh2]

@@lisab9541 There is always executioner of an estate.

[@Dr.Sharron]

They need to change the procedure, because scamming people out of their homes and properties is getting to easy. Once people start filing suit against the people who approves these claims, they will tidy up things legally to end such charades.

[@watchmakingman9342]

St. Louis is a very big town. You go to the highest attorney in town and get their card and staple it to a complaint form. I guarantee you will get a phone call from that weird looking Recorder of Deeds office within 24 hours. For that Skelator looking freak to say "The very idea we made a mistake is so frivolous." says volumes about his ego.

[@TheVagolfer]

When we start to hold government officials accountable things like this will no longer happen.

[@gregjames3001]

T E R M L I M I T S & N O I M M U N I T Y ! ! !

[@sneat2028]

They are not government officials, this isn't State! They're city civilians.

[@RealzFoSho]

@@sneat2028 City government is still government. Someone working for a governmental body is not a civilian while operating in their official capacity. Not sure where you got the idea that it isn't government and people working for it aren't officials if it isn't at the State level, but that is incorrect.

[@sneat2028]

@@RealzFoSho A police officer is a government official, a city clerk is not!

[@kookietherapy9398]

Affirmative Action gets you THIS !!!

[@kcoop9999]

This man needs to get a good lawyer and sue the recorder's office gross misconduct and dereliction of duty in order to recover any and all legal expenses plus any punitive damages.

[@crockpot5194]

Not to mention forgery

[@sagapoetic8990]

Get together with the other lady and try a class action suit too

[@arribaficationwineho32]

And the City should pay for his legal costs

[@pampoovey3281]

aren't title companies responsible for matters such as this as well?

[@arribaficationwineho32]

@@pampoovey3281 yes

[@daynakennedy]

Yes, more often than not: when fraud and larceny happen someone who has access to peoples private info are complicit in the harm done. Very sad.

[@jacquelineharper5811]

Make a law.. You cannot buy Stolen property, the seller has no right to sell. No science required.

[@alicia--selfpreservation365]

The Deeds Office took NO ACCOUNTABILITY. That's disturbing. The reporter should have asked The Deeds Recorder very pointedly - Would YOU be able to accept, stand for and endure your house being stolen ?

[@LegendaryWoke]

I'm not afraid to say the clerk's office is complicit in those crimes!

[@marcyanderson4268]

I pray this lady and young man get this travesty of justice resolved!! There are a lot of crooks in that office and it starts at the top!! Sad!!

[@thrill102]

Insane! Why aren’t of these city workers being held accountable??

[@purplesprigs]

Because...St. Louis.

[@anye76]

That smug arrogant lightbulb head man has more than enough nerve to say on camera its not their job to check. He was confident to make such a remark with such callousness, he knew no one would say a thing. The rot is deep in that city. Fighting it in court might cost more than the house itself. Go to the Attorney General Office now a file on the city. Deep corruption

[@michellebyrom6551]

Good point. If its not his job to verify what he is officially recording, what's the point of his job title? Any filing clerk can stamp and sign a document as received and put it in a filing cabinet.

[@davidgoans3025]

Someone needs to be held accountable

[@cyberianwolf790]

No one probably will be. Thats the problem in America, no accountability.

[@tracypaxton1054]

More than one person. The person who stole the property and everyone in that office who allowed it to happen (or might be in on it).

[@thatguyinelnorte]

@@cyberianwolf790 Democrat-controlled America...

[@mikesixx7655]

It's the denocrat ran city with the highest murder rate in the country. Dark and violent is the legacy of all Democrat cities.

[@madadhdbrain]

Forging Notary seals is a serious crime that warrants an “enhanced” prison sentence, according to a federal appeals court ruling.

[@carolkar5687]

Recorder of Deeds needs to resign...this is incompetence

[@edl6398]

This infuriates me. I lived in St. Louis and like so many other places, so many government workers are lazy, rude and indifferent. This IS their problem. 60,000 deeds a year, where all are standard templates with only names, addresses and amounts to be checked is not a lot of work. But you rarely see them work. This poor man deserves help from the city and not this rude, dismissive attitude. Thank you to the news station for covering this and exposing these lazy, corrupt workers.

[@integritynow1]

You hit the nail on the head!

[@maryannbravo5650]

Who ever signed the deed/the worker should be fired and the person should SUE the Worker and the County. Whose responsibility is the person’s name on the Door!

[@integritynow1]

And where is law enforcement? @@maryannbravo5650

[@anthonykoller4459]

We have the same problem In London, most of the People working for the Council are Stupid and Lazy and have no idea how to do their jobs, the only reason they passed the interviews was because their friends was sitting on the other side of the desk

[@tomcat5170]

this is happening all over the US!!!! THESE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE PUT IN JAIL FOR AIDING AND ABETTING CRIMINALS!!!!!!!

[@thehillbillyjefe7301]

This is an inside job in the Recorder of Deeds Office. His very blatant disregard for the situation and lack of empathy makes me feel he is a very big part of it

[@johnathansmith1003]

When he says they go through 60k documents a year, its a slap in the face. It's not referring to 60k property documents they also handle death, life and marriage. They also have a large staff that should have no problems with the verification of ANY record that has THEIR stamp on it.

[@misstriciaskitchen8640]

It should take more than a signed and notarized quit claim deed to take someone’s property. The paperwork should be scrutinized. The rules need to be changed. The previous owners should be notified, there should be a waiting period. Once fraud is determined, theft charges should be brought. It should never be this easy. I own my home. Any local scammer could go down to my local courthouse today and steal my house. It’s a shame.

[@alanrogs3990]

and you'd get punished for shooting the guy for coming into your house

[@WooWoo-co4jf]

It's disgusting! You can bet if it was a building belonging to the local government they'd do something

[@Sornago]

They should turn a deed for their office and take it

[@HappyValleyDreamin]

WTF? I've never heard of such nonsense! I smell a crook in the recorders office!

[@rrbb36]

The man who had his property stolen should file a lawsuit against the thief AND name the recorder as an accomplice ‼️ The only way to get “public servants” to care about the public THEY SERVE is if they’ve got skkn in the game-meaning actual liability for errors and omissions ‼️‼️

[@dlight9849]

How about investigating the people who applied for the Quit Claim Deeds!! Maybe its more than incompetence; maybe these are inside jobs -- city workers giving out homes for cheap to their friends.

[@kaylee3867]

I was thinking the same thing then they turn them into rooms for rent to profit off of them since that's becoming more what folks are buying up the property only in north st.louis is doing

[@dlight9849]

@@kaylee3867 These news people are simpletons and can't think outside the box. They have blinders on and only focus on a piece of paper. It's so obvious that there is some kind of inside connection with all these Quit Claims being done immediately after a house is bought -- that's not a random coincidence.

[@cinemabunny]

Unfortunately, it is a fraud too. They will probably apply for a mortgage and home improvement line of credit and default. They may never show up at the property.

[@Macachee]

*Quick

[@gravelydon7072]

@@Macachee "A quitclaim deed transfers title to Florida real estate without giving any guarantee as to the quality of the grantor's title." That from a lawyer's website. It also does not mean that the person granting it had any rights at all. And that is the case in most States. Florida requires the addresses of both parties and it must be signed in front of two witnesses and a notary who must also know the person or verify their identity with proof such as a drivers license or State ID card.

[@jungefrau]

I hope the people who were scammed get a positive resolution very soon.

[@chillivanasmr6607]

This happens every day in KS and MO. It needs to be stopped!

[@ericwethington]

What are the odds someone in that office is in on the fraud.

[@johnleos1687]

So just walk into any stationary store buy a "Quick claim deed" form then find a house you want to own. Fill out the form and submit it to your local Register Recorder's Office and you too can be a home owner! Only in America 🇺🇸

[@misstriciaskitchen8640]

Unfortunately. The rules need to be changed. It shouldn’t be this easy to steal someone’s house.

[@Ashleycorrie8494]

We are a 6 figure income couple and had very little saved and not much cash lying around the preverbal". '...don't have $500 for an emergency" that was us. The big thing was debt all kinds of it, cars mortgage (although our home isn't a high price one), student loans for our kids, and of course credit cards. One day we just got sick of being broke and went total scorched earth and became frugal overnight. Paid it all off, it took almost 5 years but now we have no debt and this year our savings rate is 50% on basically the same income that had us perpetually broke. So for us it is mainly staying out of debt and watching our spending, at first it was a real effort to save in our HISA and 401Ks but now it's actually fun watching our money grow. No car or vacation or neighborhood is worth being broke or financially unstable.

[@Seanmirrer]

Congratulations on taking the steps necessary to get yourself out of the financial bind you were in.

[@RandalHebert]

Facing your medicine can be difficult. However, with commitment, you'll ultimately reach a highly satisfying place. It's all about the actions you're willing to take.

[@Ashleycorrie8494]

Samuel Peter Descovich that's whom I work with

[@Ashleycorrie8494]

I believe everyone could benefit from having a personal financial advisor. They can assist you in reaching your customized financial objectives at any point, ensuring you remain profitable.

[@Ashleycorrie8494]

You can search his name online and validate his credentials. He brings with him extensive experience in the financial market.

[@user-op2vi3nu2m]

As a teacher, I easily graded many thousands of papers each year, and everyone had to be correct and recorded in a grade book correctly for each child. DO YOUR JOB CORRECTLY!!!!

[@gravelydon7072]

I would love to see how long that jerk of a clerk was in the job here. We have the 4th largest court system in the US and they handle over 2 million documents per year. Currently most are e-filed but each one has to be looked at so that before entry into the computers for access, they have to have things like account numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth for minors, and in some cases, even names redacted.

[@garystevens1044]

Man that's just screwed up. But to mention on that note in California a friend's dad had an attorney looking over his will and what kids get what well my friend lives off grid and his brother whom I know was homeless . The attorney took it upon himself to steal the dads house the 2 rentals he had and the private car collection after all and said both kids lost the car collection to this guy but they got the houses. I was floored when I heard who the attorney was!! Just unbelievable

[@zoftigbeatnik]

This should not be a 5 second transaction. The Deeds office should have taken the time to check out the information before signing anything. They need to change their application process so it has to take weeks so the application can be checked out. Quick claim deeds need to go. No wonder nobody in any office wants to talk about it because they are in the wrong. File a complaint with the AG and or sue.

[@paulready8897]

Somebody in the recorder of deeds office needs to be criminally charged and needs to be in prison

[@rankat1841]

Hilarious. The recorder office guy says it's "frivolous to accuse us of not doing our job". What a twit.

[@glenwaldrop8166]

So doing their job isn't their job? How does that work? Why does the office exist?

[@dshepherd107]

I’m in NY state. That’s a good investigative journalist you’ve got there. I hope his prodding gets that family their home back. This is insanity.

[@calamity0.o]

The witness not being 3rd party should have been enough. The notary being found fraudulent should immediately revoke the recording of the deed.

[@funkymuskcrat73]

He has a misunderstanding of the Recorder's office, their responsibilities and real estate law. 1. The recorder's office is essentially a library of documents related to real estate. 2. The Recorder is obligated to record any document that can be indexed against a parcel. 3. The Recorder’s act of recording a deed such as a Quit Claim Deed (QCD) does not transfer property. The document is what transfers the property. 4. A QCD doesn’t prove ownership. Its only purpose is for the grantor to quit any right or title he has, even if he has none. Anyone can give anyone a QCD for any real property, regardless of whether they own it. That’s only a problem if the intent is to defraud someone. 5. He should contact the County Clerk, he’s the one that will change the tax record to the grantee and that’s more of a problem. The scammer surely recorded the document because in most states a document isn’t valid until it is recorded. It isn’t a problem to record a QCD even if you are not a grantee in a previous deed for a parcel. It’s done all the time to quiet title in estate settlements.

[@SpoonLady]

The city owes him BIG

[@GigDrivingKatt]

These should be required to be done in person with proper id for all parties.

[@randysmith9715]

It is for sale of cars here in PA

[@paulsaulpaul]

They are required to do this. That's the point of the notary. They check the IDs and write down in their logbook the entire transaction. They watch the physical person sign the document and notarize it as a trusted witness to the signing. Then they clamp their seal of trust on the document. Problem is, the notary was a fraud in this case.

[@gravelydon7072]

@@paulsaulpaul In Florida and many States they no longer emboss the notary stamp. They just use an inked stamp.

[@coffeecup3177]

The Mayor needs to step up to the plate and get his administration run in a professional manner.

[@gravelydon7072]

Ha ha ha, not in St Louis. Where the DAs and prosecutors let crooks run free.

[@Yoursoul101]

He should get an attorney to sue the city of St Louis and the deed office. He would have a great case.

[@ajdougan4695]

There needs to be a federal investigation

[@steffibaker6121]

SUE THE BASTARDS. A sale achieved by fraud isn't valid because it's illegal! I hope this gentleman and lady get a lawyer and get their property back!!

[@cindyrush1204]

What exactly are you responsible for.....sir?!

[@davejoseph5615]

So the Recorder of Deeds refuses to nullify a clearly fraudulent transaction?

[@angelagill7735]

Wow! I sincerely hope you get this straightened out. And safeguards need to be set in place to protect homeowners.

[@tastyorange]

Incompetent government workers. The recorder should be sued.

[@sthpac6910]

I wondered why would Michael Butler leave his state office rep job in Missouri and campaign for a local office over city residents property. I'm not saying he had a plan, but it sure seems to be leaning that way, because I don't remember this happening before. Has it ever happen, maybe so, but it was a mistake. Butler says it's not his office job to check notary signatures....oh oh. that is scary. Stay tuned.

[@justshar7215]

This is illegal, wrong, & rotten as hell. I hope his ancestors flip the script for him!!!

[@Goldiegirl2009]

You guys need a NEW Recorder of Deeds because these people are incompetent.

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

They need the state attorney general's office to investigate the city. With so many identical cases and no one prosecuted even when people get their property back, multiple city officials and law enforcement have to be involved in the criminal organisation.

[@karlrovey]

Bailey pretended to care about Stl until he forced out Gardner. Now he has to put on a show on something else and make it look like he cares elsewhere in the state.

[@CUDA1970Terry]

Sounds like the Recording office is on the take. A handful of dollars slipped under the table. It would be a shame if some people who are doing this fraud failed to be able to enjoy their handy work. The FBI should be focusing on these types of crimes instead of harassing lawful citizens.

[@PeteNice29]

So when people talk about corruption, fiefdoms and rot holding back this city, here's a prime example.

[@knunya4351]

Wow these city employees are absolutely horrendous 😮