A Berkeley man pleaded not guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to charges that he conspired to steal or attempt to steal 16 homes and a duplex by filing fraudulent property deeds.
James L. Townes Jr., 50, was initially charged by complaint on June 10, 2025. A federal grand jury indicted him on June 25 with multiple counts including mail fraud, access device fraud, unlawful production of an authentication feature, identity theft, and aggravated identity theft. A superseding indictment issued August 6 expanded the total charges against Townes to 25 counts: conspiracy, mail fraud, access device fraud, fraudulently effecting transactions, unlawful production of an authentication feature, identity theft and aggravated identity theft.
Townes also faces a separate indictment filed August 6 charging him with one count of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud and four counts of theft of government funds.
According to the superseding indictment, Townes and co-defendant Charnay Bartlett allegedly used forged documents between September 2018 and April 2025 to transfer ownership of the properties. The indictment states they stole identities of property owners and falsified notarizations and signatures for these transfers. The document further alleges Townes continued transferring properties after his notary license was suspended.
Bartlett has been charged with conspiracy, fraudulently effecting transactions, unlawful production of an authentication feature (four counts), and identity theft (four counts).
The second indictment accuses Townes of falsely claiming disability from February 2017 through August 6, 2025. It alleges he stated he had no bank accounts or resources and could barely walk or perform household tasks while running Tied Tight Entertainment as well as acting as registered agent for thirteen LLCs. He also allegedly maintained investment accounts, became a commissioned notary public during this period and filed property deeds.
"Charges set forth in indictments are merely an accusation and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty."
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General; Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; St. Louis County Police Department; and Hazelwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
