A WOMAN’S brother’s home was taken from her in 2022 after the deed had been mysteriously transferred to a neighbor.
She later found out it was an act of deed fraud and the criminal had done it to multiple homeowners.
Carolyn Shank had her brother’s home taken and sold without her consent after massive deed fraudCredit: WKMG
The home in Florida was left behind after her brother Charles Gadson’s death in 2020Credit: WKMG
Shank found that her brother had transferred ownership of the home to Javon Walden, but was immediately suspiciousCredit: WKMG
In 2020 after Carolyn Shank’s brother, Charles Gadson, died, he left behind a home in Daytona Beach, Florida, according to CBS affiliate WKMG in 2023.
However, Shank learned that her brother had transferred ownership of the property, according to a deed recorded with Volusia County Clerk of Court, according to the outlet.
It read that Gadson had given his home to his neighbor Javon Walden, who had previously served time for cocaine trafficking.
His sister was confused by this transaction.
“No one in my family knows who Javon Renard Walden is,” Shank told the WKMG in 2022.
“I have no idea what his connections are to my brother.”
Shank immediately believed it was deed fraud for two reasons.
The document was signed and notarized a week after her brother’s death and the signature didn’t look like the one on his driver’s license.
“It’s impossible for him to come back from the dead to sign a deed in front of a notary,” Shank said.
Daytona Beach Police immediately began to investigate the incident and came across records that showed Walden selling Gadson’s home to a real estate investor for $70,000, according to the outlet.
“Javon has taken things from me and my family we can never replace,” Shank told the outlet.
MORE FRAUD
The distraught sister contacted WKMG about the issue and found out that another Volusia County family was accusing Walden of the same crime.
In that case, a quit claim deed showed that Judith Hanger Swindle transferred ownership of her home to Walden in December 2020.
Swindle’s signature was on the notarized deed even though her death certificate was dated three years earlier.
After the outlet took action, the state attorney re-opened the case against Walden and charged him with organized scheme to defraud, which is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, according to the WKMG.
Everything was underway with Walden’s case, but two weeks before a jury was scheduled, he pleased no contest to the crime as part of a plea deal.
No contest meant he admitted the facts were true but did not admit guilt.
In March, outside of the courthouse, he told the outlet, “I really have no comment.”
“I’m truly sorry, but I’ve got nothing to say.”
‘JUSTICE”
After almost two years, Walden was sentenced to two years in state prison.
When he is released, he will be placed on supervised probation for three years and ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
Shank could not have been happier with the verdict.
“I just said, ‘Thank God. Thank you, Jesus. There is some justice,'” she told the outlet after watching Walden be escorted to prison.
“Javon is paying for what he has done.”
Though Walden was guilty of organized fraud, the real estate holding company that bought Gadson’s home is still listed as the owner in county property records.
A civil court judge later ruled that Shank may want the property back, but she expressed that she could not afford an attorney and as of March 2023, had not filed court papers to transfer the property back to her family.
Just before the case was seen by a jury, Walden pleased no contest as part of a plea dealCredit: 7th District State Attorney’s Office
Walden was found guilty of organized fraud and sentenced to two years of prison in 2023Credit: WKMG