Philly Feds Sink Foreclosure Surplus Snatcher Who Used Forged Docs To Swipe Unwitting Ex-Homeowners' Proceeds From Forced Sales In Excess Of Liens

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania):

• Amin A. Rashid, a/k/a “Lawrence D. Wilson,” 62, of Philadelphia, was convicted [] of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a three-year fraud scheme that defrauded former property owners and their families of over $650,000, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.



• From at least December 2005 to August 2008, Rashid operated “The Center for Constitutional and Criminal Justice” under the guise of assisting former owners of properties sold at Sheriff’s sales.



• Rashid told these clients that he could help recover their properties or the proceeds from the Sheriff’s sales. Rashid took fees from these clients and photocopies of their drivers licenses but typically did nothing in return.



• Rashid altered his clients’ driver’s licenses and submitted them to a title company along with forged power of attorney documents to steal Sheriff’s sale proceeds due to other former property owners.



• The forged power of attorney documents carried signatures of former property owners who actually died years before they purportedly signed the documents. In addition, Rashid submitted bogus corporate resolutions that purportedly authorized him to collect Sheriff's sales proceeds that were due to these corporations. Rashid used his family members to pose as officers of these corporations.

For the U.S. Attorney press release, see Philadelphia Man Convicted Of Defrauding Former Property Owners And Their Families Of Over $650,000.