St. Louis County, MO (May 1, 2025): On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect James Townes, Jr., 48 years of age, of the 11200 block of Cadigan Lane in St. Louis, Missouri 63138, for four counts of Stealing $25,000 or more, four counts of Possession of a Forging Instrument, and four counts of Act As Or Impersonate a Notary. Townes, Jr. is being held on $100,000, cash only, no 10% bond.
Please note, charges are merely an accusation, and Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The probable cause statement reads: On 12/13/24, Officer received a call on a burglary in the 6700 block of Silver Fox. Through the investigation of this case officer discovered fraudulent quitclaim deeds being filed in St Louis County Recorder of Deed's Office on several homes within St. Louis County, MO. Officer discovered the Defendant's scheme of filing false quitclaim deeds by forging previous owner's signatures and transferring the property into his company's name (Tied Tight Entertainment LLC). By filing the quitclaim deeds Defendant grants himself ownership of the property in the deed. Additionally, he would hold himself out to be a notary public on a separate date with the Recorder's Office thereby deceiving them during the filing of the notarized signatures.
On 6/21/24 at the Recorder of Deeds Office for St. Louis County, MO located at 41 S. Central Ave. within St. Louis County MO, Defendant filed a false quitclaim deed recorded and filed with location #2024062100091 granting him ownership of a residence in the 6000 block of Silver Fox, St. Louis County, MO 63034, the home has a value over $25,000.00, therefore, depriving First Key Management Homes of MO LLC of ownership over the home. On 6/11/2024, Defendant presented himself to the clerk's office as Notary Public and filed documents and notarized them even though he is not a notary public of the state of Missouri.
On 12/04/24 at the Recorder of Deeds Office for St. Louis County, MO located at 41 S. Central Ave. within St. Louis County MO, Defendant filed a false quitclaim deed recorded and filed with location # 2024120400251 granting him ownership of a residence in the 14300 block of Wildfox Court, St. Louis County, MO 63034, the home has a value over $25,000.00, therefore, depriving First Key Management Homes of MO LLC of ownership over the home. On 11/16/2024, Defendant presented himself to the clerk's office as Notary Public and filed documents and notarized them even though he is not a notary public of the state of Missouri and the signer was deceased.
On 12/09/24 at the Recorder of Deeds Office for St. Louis County, MO located at 41 S. Central Ave. within St. Louis County MO, Defendant filed a false quitclaim deed recorded and filed with location # 2024120900210 granting him ownership of a residence in the 1600 block of Derhake Road, St. Louis County, MO 63033, the home has a value over $25,000.00, therefore, depriving First Key Management Homes of MO LLC of ownership over the home. On 11/19/2024, Defendant presented himself to the clerk's office as Notary Public and filed documents and notarized them even though he is not a notary public of the state of Missouri.
On 3/25/25 at the Recorder of Deeds Office for St. Louis County, MO located at 41 S. Central Ave. within St. Louis County MO, Defendant filed a false quitclaim deed recorded and filed with location # 2025032500343 granting him ownership of a residence in the 10300 Renfrew Drive, St. Louis County, MO 63137, the home has a value over $25,000.00, therefore, depriving Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of ownership over the home. On 3/13/2025, Defendant presented himself to the clerk's office as Notary Public and filed documents and notarized them even though he is not a notary public of the state of Missouri.
St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Property detectives are handling this investigation.
Residents of St. Louis County can follow this link to register for property fraud alerts.
Media Relations Staff:
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SERGEANT TRACY PANUS |
MS. VERA CLAY 314-615-2505 |
MS. MARY SCHMITT 314-615-4278 |
MR. BRIAN MCCLELLAND 314-615-5978 |