Jury Convicts Bay Area Woman Of Forging POA Used To Retake Title To Home Earlier Conveyed To Friend To Stop Foreclosure

In Alameda County, California, the San Jose Mercury News reports:

• A counselor at College of Alameda has been convicted of multiple felony charges after prosecutors said she forged a power of attorney document to secure the title of her friend's home during the height of the real estate boom. Shirley Robinson, who was convicted [] in Alameda County Superior Court, will be sentenced March 29.

• According to prosecutors, Robinson has known the victim, Alze Roberts, for 50 years. The case began in 1998, when Roberts took over the title of the college counselor's home in Oakland to prevent it from foreclosure, investigators said.

• Robinson wished to purchase the home back from Roberts in 2005, and hoped to use its equity to pay off $175,000 she owed in state and federal back taxes. But the women disagreed on a sale price, which led Robinson to create a forged power-of-attorney so she could carry out the sale without Roberts knowing, prosecutors said.

• Along with forging Roberts' name, Robinson stole the identity of three other individuals to help make the transaction appear legitimate. A jury deliberated five hours [] before convicting Robinson on 10 counts of forgery and identity theft. She was immediately remanded into custody.

Source: Alameda: College counselor convicted of forgery, identity theft.