Man charged with stealing title to foreclosed properties

A 56-year-old man has been arrested and charged for defrauding banks and financial businesses by illegally filing fraudulent grant deeds on properties throughout San Bernardino County, Calif.

David Alan Boucher is charged with 63 felony counts of filing false documents, forgery and identity theft. If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of 16 years and four months in state prison.

On the morning of July 28, Boucher was arrested at his Upland residence without incident by investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit. Other agencies involved in the arrest include the FBI, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

Following Boucher’s arrest, a search warrant was served on the residence and his Bloomington business. Investigators seized records, weapons, $127,000 in cash, as well as silver coins and bars.

During the scheme, Boucher allegedly located properties that have been sold at foreclosure auction and currently belong to a lending institution. He then allegedly fraudulently signed grant deeds as the “authorized representative” of the bank, which has acquired the foreclosure home.

After having the documents notarized, Boucher or one of his representative then recorded the grant deeds at the San Bernardino County Recorder’s Office. In some instances, after the fraudulent transfer of title, hard money loans were obtained on the properties.

Boucher allegedly fraudulently transferred approximately 20 properties in San Bernardino County, representing a property value of approximately $4.5 million dollars.