A Berkeley man has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a property fraud conspiracy involving at least 14 properties in St. Louis and St. Louis County, with intended financial losses exceeding $1.5 million.
James L. Townes Jr., 51, entered his guilty plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, admitting that he participated in a scheme to unlawfully acquire properties through forged deeds and fraudulent ownership documents.
According to his plea agreement, the conspiracy began as early as Sept. 25, 2018, when Townes started submitting falsified property deeds to government recording offices in St. Louis and St. Louis County. The documents misrepresented legitimate property transactions, falsely indicating that Townes or members of his family had purchased real estate belonging to other individuals…