A Tennessee woman was sentenced on July 14 to more than six years in prison for filing fraudulent deeds for residential real estate in North Carolina and other states, and misusing the personal identifying information of property owners, according to an announcement by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Alicia England, 33, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, received a sentence of 75 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution.
“Filing fake deeds and stealing identities can wreak havoc on a victim’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “England left a trail of victims forced to deal with the aftermath of her crimes—for that, she will pay the price.”
Court documents show that from October 2022 to August 2024, England engaged in a wire fraud scheme involving at least 19 properties valued at more than $1.4 million. She stole the identities of several victims—both living and deceased—to open bank accounts, file fraudulent deeds, and enter into real estate sales for properties she did not own. In some instances, she forged notary signatures or used false identification documents before attempting to sell these properties through platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. Victims experienced significant emotional distress and financial hardship as a result.
England pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. She remains in federal custody pending transfer to a designated Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina advances public safety through initiatives addressing elder abuse and substance abuse; maintains facilities in Charlotte and Asheville; operates under the U.S. Department of Justice; employs nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support staff; handles prosecutions of federal crimes and civil actions for the government; and covers a region including half of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians community, according to its official website.