Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin speaks at a news conference Sept. 9, 2026 about lawsuits the county has filed against groups of alleged deed thieves. Tanya Babbar/Staff Writer

More than a year after Harris County officials dismantled one of the most  brazen  property fraud schemes in county history, the county attorney's office has sued two groups, alleging they forged signatures, used fake identities and deceived notaries to steal dozens of properties.

The Harris County Attorney's Office has accused two groups of forging property owners' signatures to transfer properties they didn't own, according to the two lawsuits filed in August. In several cases, the owners were already dead when their signatures were allegedly forged.

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On more than one occasion, the lawsuits claim, the defendants used fraudulent documents to sell properties they stole to unsuspecting buyers, leaving original owners and buyers in a complicated legal position. Several defendants in both lawsuits have faced civil and criminal penalties related to deed theft before, the lawsuits state.

 These aren't just abstract DTPA (Deceptive Trade Practice Act) violations under state law,  Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin said at a news conference about the lawsuits Wednesday.  These are people's homes. Their livelihood, their generational wealth they have worked hard to pass onto their children. 

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The lawsuits come after new Texas laws intended to prevent deed theft and make it easier for victims to reclaim property took effect in 2025 and 2026. Senate Bill 647, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2025, established a process for county clerks to seek additional documentation when there is a good-faith basis to believe a document is fraudulent and, in specified circumstances, refuse to record it.

Senate Bill 16, passed during the seco

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