ST. LOUIS – In a shocking turn of events, James L. Townes Jr., 50, from Berkeley, MO, has been charged with an elaborate scheme to steal 16 homes and a duplex through fraudulent means. The accused appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday, pleading not guilty to two separate indictments.
Townes, initially charged by complaint on June 10, 2025, now faces a total of 25 counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud, and identity theft. The charges stem from an investigation that revealed Townes used fake deeds to transfer property ownership, often after stealing the identities of legitimate owners.
The indictment, filed on August 6, reveals that Townes and co-conspirator Charnay Bartlett, 29, transferred properties between September 2018 and April 2025. They forged signatures and notarized documents to perpetuate the fraud, even after Townes’ notary license was suspended.
In a separate case, Townes faces additional charges for falsely claiming disability since February 2017. Despite his claims, he ran a business, managed multiple LLCs, and owned investment accounts, according to the indictment.
Charges set forth in indictments are merely an accusation and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the Hazelwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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