A real estate crime group has been finally nabbed after months of terrorizing potential property buyers. The group was able to defraud victims with more than $400,000.
According to krgv.com, Cameron County authorities have assembled a task force after the group's victims have asked for help from their district attorney's office.
The group's scheme started last 2013 and continued to run until this year before the authorities have taken a hold of them. Investigators have spent several months of surveillance strategies and they discovered that the group was led by a Brownville man named Allan Ramirez Rodriguez, aged 27.
The group has been apparently convincing possible investors to buy and invest properties from them. They also provide false deeds of properties he and his accomplices never owned for their investors. They also even attend on public real estate auctions to project legitimacy.
Allan Rodriguez was charged with "three counts of theft of property, three counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, and secure execution document by deception."
Rodriguez' accomplices were also arrested and received different charges depending on their role on their criminal act. The report has specified the cases of Allan's accomplices.
"Melissa Rangel Ramirez, 27, of Brownsville is facing charges of theft of property and engaging in organized criminal activity. Yolanda Rodriguez Ramirez, 59, of Brownsville is facing charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. Sergio Alberto Alcocer, 35, of Olmito is facing charges of two counts of theft of property and two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity."
According to valleymorningstar.com, the investigation was led by DA Luis V. Saenz' investigation and their operation is called "Operation Surreal Estate." The suspects, Ramirezes are also believed to be related by marriage and blood.
The Cameron County District Attorney has started its investigation last July 2015 after the victims contacted the DA's office and asked for help. Investigations are still on- going.
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