Philadelphia police and the District Attorney's Office has accused a West Philadelphia man with several real estate scams, including stealing houses and renting properties that did not belong to him, according to Philly.com.
Dwayne E. Stewart is accused of 52 felony counts dating back to 2009 that include forging deeds to illegally transfer three houses and two vacant lots to his own possession, "selling" properties he didn't own to unsuspecting third parties, and pocketing rent and security deposits for houses and apartments he didn't have authority to lease.
According to the report, Stewart allegedly wrote $1,403 worth of checks to the city to have bogus documents officially recorded - but the checks bounced when TD Bank informed the city the account they were drawn on had been closed.
It is the second investigation involving allegedly stolen houses in Philadelphia to lead to criminal charges this year.
A spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office quoted in the City Paper at the time said the office declined to prosecute the Stewart/Conner case because it was "a real estate deal that didn't work out." As part of the new set of charges, Stewart is accused of defiant trespass, a felony, for taking over the property.
