On Friday, the family of a 90-year-old New Yorker claimed he was defrauded of the title and will lose the Brooklyn home he has lived in for more than 50 years.
The alleged fraudster took out a mortgage on the home of elderly victim Ray Cortez in 2006 without the victim’s knowledge, CBS News reported. reported. Cortez’s family discovered the allegedly fraudulent mortgage in 2015 and tried to take action. However, the home went into foreclosure and was purchased by an LLC in 2018. (Related: Chicago to begin evictions of migrant shelters on Sunday)
The LLC, which is listed as the legal owner of the home, is now demanding that Mr. Cortez leave. The case involving the elderly man has attracted attention locally. Democratic New York Congresswoman Jo Ann Simon rallied to defend the men’s plight. “Ray Cortez, 90 years old, is the victim of deed theft by fraudsters and is facing eviction. He has lived in his Bkln home for 56 years. Gathered with people. No one should lose their home due to fraud and greed,” she wrote on social media.
Ray Cortez, 90, is facing eviction after being the victim of deed theft by fraudsters. He has lived in the Bkln house for 56 years. We gathered with Ray, his family, and neighbors. No one should lose their home due to fraud and greed. pic.twitter.com/9jd8vIvCMN
— Jo Anne Simon Bungarei 🟧 (@JoAnneSimonBK52) January 16, 2025
In another post, she wrote that Democratic Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Democratic New York State Attorney General Letitia James should investigate and defend Mr. Cortez’s case.
we asked @Brooklyn & @NewYorkStateAG To investigate and help Ray.https://t.co/ne0J80KFXC
— Jo Anne Simon Bungarei 🟧 (@JoAnneSimonBK52) January 16, 2025
Simon also spoke at Wednesday’s rally, calling for action to stop Cortez’s impending eviction, according to CBS News. “We want justice for Mr. Rey Cortez,” she cried. “This was his only home. He wants to stay here, but he was the victim of a terrible deed theft scam.”
“The days of promises and silence are over. It’s time to take action,” one person said.
A 90-year-old immigrant will lose his Brooklyn home of more than 50 years after his family says he was defrauded of his title. as @AlenDevlinTV Park Slope residents could be evicted for several more days, according to reports.
https://t.co/wxYu71PGJX— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) January 16, 2025
“As the deputy said, there have been so many tentacles and things that have come and gone over the years. This needs to be investigated,” Ray Cortez Jr. said.
“While we sympathize with Mr. Cortez’s situation, Wells Fargo did not originate the mortgage loan or make the decision to foreclose on the property. Our role is to act as a trustee of the mortgage securitization trust. was administrative in nature,” Wells Fargo, which was labeled as a fiduciary in connection with the housing, told CBS News.
