https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/memphis-woman-sentenced-to-federal-prison-in-real-estate-fraud-schemes/article_94b0d161-f436-4666-81a5-4b8d60e376ef.html
https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/fox13memphis.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/9f/39f90d64-c5e9-5061-8f4d-65217f6fe2b7/6999289452e8b.image.jpg?crop=1139%2C598%2C0%2C23&resize=438%2C230&order=crop%2Cresize
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Memphis woman was sentenced to federal prison for her role in a real estate fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee said.
Officials said 41-year-old Shaneika Seymore pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025 to one count each of mail fraud, bank fraud, and making a materially false statement.
According to officials, Seymore notarized fraudulent quit claim deeds and transferred ownership from homeowners to herself and her co-conspirators.
The deeds were filed with the Shelby County Register of Deeds without the homeowners’ knowledge. Officials said in one case, both listed signatories died before the deed was signed.
The indictment says this happened between the years 2019 and 2024. FOX13 spoke to one of her victims, Clovis Wright.
Wright owns Genesis Property Management. “I went out to the property one day, and a lady drove up and asked me why was I at her property? And I told her that, ‘This is not - your property belongs to me.’ She says, ‘No, I bought this property from somebody else,’” he told FOX13.
He said he soon realized the deal did happen, but it was not his signature on the documents. “We found out that she had been basically tricked into paying $50,000 for an approximately $200,000 property,” he said.
Officials said Seymore lied on a notary application filed with the Shelby County Clerk’s Office by stating that she had not previously been convicted of a felony, despite a 2019 felony theft conviction. Officials said more than 30 properties in Memphis were fraudulently transferred in the scheme.
FOX13 also spoke to Willie Brooks, the Shelby County Register of Deeds. He said last year, they counted 40 cases of fraud. He said there is more awareness about quit claim deeds, but he still advises property owners and management companies to check on their properties regularly.
“I would recommend they check in weekly or monthly, just like you check your checking account to validate that the money that’s in your account is completely accurate, that there are no transactions that occur without your knowledge or your approval,” he said.
Authorities said Seymore forged her name on stolen checks deposited into her bank account and lied on an application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan.
Seymore was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $280,914.25 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bartlett Police Department, and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
To sign up for the Shelby County Register of Deeds Fraudulent Alert Program, you can find out more here.
Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.
{“uri”:“fox13memphis.com”,“dataType”:“news”,“title”:“Fox13”,“description”:“FOX13 Memphis is the most reliable news team with updated coverage in local news, sports, weather, and traffic.”}fox13memphis.com