Five people have been charged after an investigation into deed theft and vehicle title fraud in Kentuckiana.
In a news release, the Department of Justice said a federal grand jury indicted three men and a woman in a scheme to steal vacant homes in Louisville.
Donnie Russell, 58; Lisa Cunnigham, 55; Jerry Wagers, 46; all of Louisville, and Steven Jamesray Cates, 47, of Mount Washington, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy related to deed theft, according to the Department of Justice.
According to court records, the indictment alleges that between April 2024 and June 2026, the four individuals conspired to create and file fraudulent deeds and illegally took over homes in Louisville, often stealing the property when the true owner died without a will.
Russell is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft for using the signatures of deceased homeowners on fraudulent deeds.
He, along with Cunningham and Jamesray, are also charged with money laundering conspiracy for using fake identities to conceal their connection to the wire fraud conspiracy.
The Department of Justice said Russell, Cunningham, Cates and Claude Cunningham III, 36, of Indiana, are also charged in a mail fraud conspiracy related to vehicle title fraud as well.
Court records accused them of conspiring to obtain fraudulent Indiana vehicle titles using forged documents to allow them and others to keep or sell stolen or abandoned vehicles between January 2024 and July 2025.
If convicted, all five face a maximum of up to 20 years in prison for each count on the fraud of money laundering charges, as well as owing fines and victim restitution.
Russell, if convicted for aggravated identity theft, faces an additional two-year sentence per count to run concurrent with any other sentence imposed, authorities added.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Source: WHAS11
You must be logged in to post a comment.