Notary sentenced to prison for real estate fraud scheme

February 20, 2026 - 23:45

A Memphis notary public has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent real estate scheme. Shaneika Seymore, 41, was handed a 57-month sentence after previously pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud conspiracy.

Court documents reveal that Seymore abused her official position as a notary to falsify signatures and fraudulently notarize documents. Her scheme specifically targeted properties with existing mortgages. She would file forged warranty deeds, illegally transferring ownership of these homes to straw buyers or corporate entities she controlled. Following these fraudulent transfers, Seymore would then file forged satisfaction documents, falsely stating the original mortgages had been paid off, in order to secure clear titles.

The elaborate fraud created significant financial havoc for the true homeowners, many of whom were unaware their property titles had been compromised. It also caused substantial losses to the mortgage lienholders who held the original loans. In addition to her prison term, Seymore was ordered to pay restitution to the victims of her crimes. The sentence underscores the serious consequences of exploiting official positions of trust to commit fraud within the real estate system.