Backed by State AG Letitia James, lawmakers introduce bills to combat deed theft amsterdamnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from amsterdamnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Attorney General Letitia James has proposed a bill that would make a crime of "deed theft," a growing concern in which older homeowners, often in minority neighborhoods, are tricked into turning over property for needed cash, or by forgery.
A pair of bills announced on Thursday could strengthen protections and remedies for victims by establishing deed theft as a crime and bolstering the attorney general’s ability to prosecute con artists who often target older New Yorkers or homeowners in minority neighborhoods.
Rowan D. Wilson was installed Tuesday as New York's chief judge, becoming the first black jurist to hold the post and delivering a political victory to progressive legislators and activists.