DAYTON, Ohio — Diamond DeShawn Washington, 38, and Rosalyn Monique Johnson, 39, have been arrested for allegedly scamming homeowners through a quitclaim scheme involving their LLC, Love Has Homes LLC.
The pair is accused of attempting to defraud homeowners by initiating quitclaim sales on their properties. The Montgomery County prosecutor’s office launched an investigation after potential victims received alerts about possible ownership transfers of their homes. Washington and Johnson were subsequently indicted by a grand jury, facing multiple charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, forgery, tampering with government records, grand theft, and telecommunications fraud.
According to reports, Washington and Johnson targeted three unsuspecting homeowners using their LLC, which claims an annual revenue of $20,000. The business is classified under “Real Estate Investors, except Property Operators” within the Holding and Other Investment Offices sector.
While quitclaim deed transfers are legal, they require the homeowner’s signature to complete the ownership transfer properly. Washington and Johnson allegedly forged homeowner signatures to transfer ownership to Love Has Homes LLC. The fraudulent activities came to light due to the vigilance of the affected homeowners.
Homeowners can proactively register for alerts to protect their properties. Many states offer Filing Activity Notification Services (FANS), allowing mortgagees to receive notifications when actions are taken on their property. By registering for a FAN through their local county clerk’s office, homeowners can be alerted if any changes occur.
The scam reportedly aims to either sell the property, borrow against it, or collect payments from the rightful owner. The fraudulent owner must wait 30 days to act, giving the legitimate homeowner a window to contact authorities and file an affidavit of title, which protects their rights and halts further fraudulent activities.