REMARKS
Case study: Ray Cortez's experience with deed theft
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55 sec
Council Member Hudson presents the case of Ray Cortez, a 90-year-old Brooklyn resident who fell victim to deed theft, illustrating the devastating impact of this crime.
- Ray Cortez bought his home on Saint Mark's Place in 1969 and raised his three children there.
- In 2006, Cortez was tricked into signing over the deed while thinking he was agreeing to home repairs.
- A mortgage was taken out on the property without his knowledge, extracting nearly $700,000.
- An LLC purchased the home at a 2018 foreclosure auction and is now seeking to evict Cortez.
- At 90 years old, Cortez is fighting in housing court to remain in the home he thought he owned.
Crystal Hudson
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As an example, let's look at the case of 90 year old Ray Cortez of Brooklyn.
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Mister Cortez bought his home on Saint Mark's Place in 1969 and raised his 3 children there.
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In 2006, mister Cortez planned on making renovations to the home.
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Thinking that he was just agreeing to the performance of home repairs, mister Cortez was duped into signing over the deed to the home in 2006.
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Much later, mister Cortez learned a mortgage was taken out on the property without his knowledge, with the borrower extracting nearly $700,000 according to court records.
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Then, unbeknownst to mister Cortez, an LLC purchased his home at a 2018 at a 2018 foreclosure auction and is now seeking to evict mister Lopez to cash in on the property.
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Now 90 year old mister Cortez is in housing court fighting to remain in the home he thought he owned at a time when he should be enjoying his remaining years of retirement.
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If this story sounds like a nightmare, that's because it is a nightmare.
