News

Woman guilty of notary fraud found dead

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Posted: Nov. 29, 2011 | 4:28 p.m.

Authorities said a Las Vegas-area notary public was found dead several hours after missing sentencing on a misdemeanor fraud charge.

Las Vegas police said it could be weeks before investigators know how 43-year-old Tracy Lawrence died.

Her body was found about 11:30 a.m. Monday at her Las Vegas apartment.

Police Sgt. Matt Sanford said there was no apparent sign of foul play. Coroner toxicology tests could take up to eight weeks.

Lawrence would have faced up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine earlier Monday for her guilty plea Nov. 17 to one criminal charge of notarizing the signature of a person not in her presence.

KSNV-TV reported that Lawrence admitted notarizing tens of thousands of fraudulent documents as part of a wider foreclosure fraud scheme.

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  1. mrnoitall Nov. 30, 2011 | 11:21 p.m. Report Abuse

    Starlite.. Let me see if I got this right. You lost your home and live in a small apartment. Have I got that right? Now a woman DIES,and you feel vindacated now? Wouldn"t that make notary fraud a death penalty case in your book? Take another bong hit and call 1-800-waw

  2. CynicalObserver Nov. 30, 2011 | 11:57 a.m. Report Abuse

    My belief is that Ms. Lawrence got a very sweet plea deal and that she should not have been depressed on the morning of her sentencing, but instead she should have been happy and relieved that she did not face a far worse punishment, given the thousands of documents she was accused of fraudulently notarizing. I would have expected that if Ms. Lawrence was going to be a "cooperating witness" an employee of the prosecutor or her lawyer would have been in contact with her to "keep her on the farm" and keep her spirits buoyed. As a result, Ms. Lawrence's death comes as a bit of a surprise. Was no one sophisticated enough to babysit the key witness?

  3. realist Nov. 30, 2011 | 8:30 a.m. Report Abuse

    As I become older (read 'mature') I do not speed; I do not run red lights; I try to obey parking laws; etc.,etc.,etc.
    In other words I comply with the system and that leads to a serene lifestyle and I do not fear being pulled over or the 1.am knock at the door.
    Everyone should try it. If Tracy Lawrence had done it she most likely would be alive today as she would have had nothing to fear

  4. No More Pizza Nov. 29, 2011 | 11:32 p.m. Report Abuse

    You do the crime, you do the time... or in this persons case... die. Unfortunate end, but it happens to all of us. Except, i'm the ever living... MUMRAHHH!!!!!

  5. SEPSIS Nov. 29, 2011 | 11:31 p.m. Report Abuse

    Just request a copy of your note from the leinholder. Check the signature. Simple. Bank of America will send it to you for free.

    Ok...back to not being serious.

  6. he hate me Nov. 29, 2011 | 10:55 p.m. Report Abuse

    starlite53 well you should have paid your bills... you dont pay they take it away... just like a libby to blame others for her/his short commings.

  7. RJ reader Nov. 29, 2011 | 10:50 p.m. Report Abuse

    After reading this article I wonder how legal my refinance was. When I refinanced my house a few years ago there was only a Title Officer in the signing no escrow officer or notary public. I questioned her about there not being an escrow officer present or a notary public to notarize our signatures, she kept telling us she was held up in another signing. We signed the notary book, signed our documents and left.After we left the escrow officer stamped and signed the documents. She never ever witnessed our signatures, nor did she see our ID. The title officer was not a notary because she was a Canadian citizen. Makes me wonder....

  8. TimeRanger Nov. 29, 2011 | 10:24 p.m. Report Abuse

    Tina ... it does NOT matter if Starlite was foreclosed upon - the fact remains that he was denied Due Process due to some unscrupulous, lying, miscreant who abused the power she possessed. She should have been charged with a FELONY for each and every incident. Good Riddance.

  9. VeteranC/O Nov. 29, 2011 | 10:23 p.m. Report Abuse

    Tina B- You are perfectly correct in your assessment. Most people overspend on their house. If the mortgage payment is going to be more then 25% of one person's paycheck, then its more then you can afford or should.

  10. Tina B Nov. 29, 2011 | 10:10 p.m. Report Abuse

    Starlite53, you didn't lose your home because of what she did, you lost your home because you didn't pay your mortgage. If I was to guess, you probably refinanced a few times, puling out more and more equity, then when you were not able to make your house payment, you languished and eventually declared BK.
    What everyone has to realize, regardless of the robo-signing..If you don't make your payment, you will lose your house. It's really very simple.

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