Sentencing and Charges
Marcus Wilcher, the ringleader of a Queens-based deed theft crew, has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for orchestrating the theft of homes from elderly and disabled owners. The announcement was made by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who highlighted the significant financial and emotional harm inflicted by Wilcher and his associates.
Scheme Details
Wilcher, 48, led a crew that used forged documents to fraudulently sell homes in the Jamaica and St. Albans neighborhoods of Queens, pocketing over $1 million in proceeds. The scheme involved identifying homes in poor condition with absentee owners and then marketing these properties at significantly discounted prices to investors.
Modus Operandi
Wilcher’s crew included Stacie Saunders, 53, a former mortgage broker, who marketed the homes to investors. Once interest was garnered, Wilcher obtained personal information from the real homeowners to create fake identification documents. Disbarred attorney Anyekache Hercules, 49, was responsible for creating forged legal documents used in the thefts.
Impersonation and Laundering
The crew enlisted four individuals, including crew members Dean Lloyd, 63, and Jerry Currin, 67, to impersonate the real owners at contract signings and closings. The proceeds from the fraudulent sales were then laundered through out-of-state banks.
Legal Outcomes
Wilcher pleaded guilty to grand larceny in May and received his sentence on Friday. Hercules also pleaded guilty to the scam and will be sentenced to up to three years in prison in September. Currin and Lloyd pleaded guilty to felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing, while Saunders awaits trial.
