Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Mission real estate agent has been indicted on charges of wire fraud, as announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Sergio Efrain Zamora Jr., aged 45, appeared in McAllen federal court facing allegations outlined in a four-count indictment.
The indictment accuses Zamora of orchestrating a real estate fraud scheme starting in June 2021. He allegedly sold multiple homes without the homeowners' authorization by forging signatures on documents and transferring property titles to his business. The victims reportedly included some of his own family and friends who were unaware that their homes were being sold.
Zamora is accused of creating fraudulent documents such as warranty deeds and contracts of sale to make the transactions appear legitimate. The indictment further alleges that he profited illegally from these sales by using the proceeds to pay off debts and, in some instances, receiving funds directly from the fraudulent closings.
The total loss caused by this scheme is estimated at $655,000, affecting both the victims and the title company involved. If convicted, Zamora could face up to 20 years in prison along with a potential maximum fine of $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan is handling the prosecution. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation and not evidence of guilt; Zamora remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
