EL PASO, TX — The El Paso real estate market was shaken after Victor Bernard Dennis Jr. was sentenced to 21 years in prison for a massive property fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable homeowners, including military service members.
According to KFOX-TV and the El Paso Times, Dennis pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including theft of property, forgery, and tampering with a governmental record. Authorities say he swindled more than $500,000 from nearly 70 victims over the course of a decade.
Dennis’s elaborate scheme primarily targeted military members facing imminent deployment or reassignment. He would pose as a buyer offering quick solutions to offload their properties. However, instead of completing the purchases, Dennis used fraudulent paperwork to seize ownership, often through forged deeds, and left sellers facing foreclosure and ruined credit.
El Paso District Attorney James Montoya held a press conference urging community awareness and asking any additional victims to come forward. He emphasized the importance of combating white-collar crimes, often overlooked but deeply damaging to families and communities.
Assistant District Attorney Erin Delaney Matney revealed Dennis used forged documents to transfer homes into fake trusts and investment companies, many of which were entirely fabricated. Shockingly, Dennis admitted to learning his tactics by watching YouTube tutorials on real estate fraud, according to reports by the El Paso Times.
The case underscores the alarming ease with which scams can be executed—and the importance of vigilance, particularly in markets with high military turnover.
