Philadelphia Woman, Adult Son Charged In Real Estate Scheme
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Prosecutors say a Philadelphia woman and her son posed as real estate agents to fraudulently sell or lease foreclosed properties in southern New Jersey.
Camden County prosecutors say 51-year-old Lisa Smith faces three counts of theft by deception and one count of burglary. They say Smith is a former real estate broker whose license was revoked for life in March 2010.
Smith's 28-year-old son, Kristian "Frank" Edmonds faces a burglary charge for allegedly entering a foreclosed home.
Prosecutors say the pair had no legal right to sell, lease, or even enter the properties. They say the defendants accessed the foreclosed properties by unlawfully using keys from real estate lockboxes or having the properties re-keyed.
Authorities have identified at least 20 potential victims in Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington counties.
Telephone numbers for Smith and Edmonds could not be located Sunday.