Queens Woman Nabbed in $1.5M Deed Theft

NEW YORK – Satwattie Martinez, 58, of Queens, and Joseph Uwagba, 68, of Queens, are facing serious charges after allegedly orchestrating a brazen scheme to steal the home and over $1.5 million from an elderly and vulnerable neighbor. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the indictment and arraignment today, exposing a calculated act of betrayal that left a lifetime of savings and a family home ripped away.

The scheme, which began in November 2021 while the victim was hospitalized and residing in a nursing home, involved forged documents – a deed, power of attorney, and even a falsified last will and testament – all allegedly notarized by Uwagba. Martinez, according to investigators, used these fraudulent papers to transfer ownership of the neighbor’s property at 133-12 128th Street in Queens to herself. The total value of the stolen home and funds exceeds $1.5 million.

But the theft didn’t stop at the house. Martinez allegedly appointed herself as her neighbor’s legal agent through the forged power of attorney, using it to siphon off more than $790,000 from his investment account. Attempts were also made to drain funds from other accounts. The stolen money wasn’t hidden; it was spent. Attorney General James detailed how Martinez used the ill-gotten gains for personal expenditures, including paying off credit card debt, shopping sprees, travel, and – adding insult to injury – remodeling the stolen home, which her daughter and son-in-law now occupy.

“Deed theft is a heartless, terrible crime that robs innocent people of their most valuable possession: their home,” stated Attorney General James. “No one should ever have to fear their home being stolen out from underneath them, especially not from their own neighbor. Satwattie Martinez targeted her elderly neighbor to steal generational wealth that he built for himself and his family. I will continue to fight for New York homeowners and do everything in my power to keep them in their homes.”

The fraud extended to creating a joint bank account using the victim’s personal information, depositing checks made payable to him, and then pilfering the funds. Martinez even attempted to control the narrative, communicating with the victim’s brother overseas, falsely portraying herself as a caregiver and friend while simultaneously plotting to cut him out of the estate. When a concerned citizen alerted the New York City Sheriff’s Office, Martinez reportedly tried to move the victim to a different nursing home and instructed staff to restrict visitors, suggesting a desperate attempt to cover her tracks.

Martinez and Uwagba were each charged for forging documents and Martinez was separately charged with additional crimes for stealing her neighbor’s home and money. The investigation revealed Uwagba, a qualified notary in Queens County, knowingly falsified the documents, enabling the scheme. This case underscores the devastating impact of elder financial abuse and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable populations. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.