News

Former Ind. real estate agent convicted of forgery

Posted February 08, 2012 11:00 pm

Associated Press

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A former Lafayette real estate agent has been convicted of forgery for allegedly falsifying sales disclosure documents to avoid paying property taxes.

A Tippecanoe Circuit Court judge found Brenda K. Hatfield guilty Wednesday of 12 counts of forgery and acquitted her of one count of corrupt business influence.

The Journal & Courier reports that videotaped recordings were played back Wednesday of Hatfield answering questions posed by police detectives and her attorney. Hatfield explained in the recordings how she filled out forms and how assistants allegedly forged the signatures of “buyers” who actually were renters.

Indiana law taxes owner-occupied properties at considerably lower rates than rental properties.

Renters testified they discovered they were listed as buyers when they saw their names in property sales listings in the Journal & Courier.

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