El Paso residents discuss ongoing legal battle with Sierra Title

UPDATE:

This afternoon, ABC-7 spoke to Sierra Title President John King, who shared the following statement:

"It is our understanding that certain, long established customers requested as a courtesy that an employee of Sierra Title Company, Inc. allow them to sign documents on Sierra premises, and act as a notary public for the signature in certain of those transactions.

These acts were a violation of Sierra’s best practice policies, and the employee in question resigned. 

Sierra regrets that any of its employees acted outside of the scope of their employment, but cannot comment further on active litigation."

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso residents who say they were scammed out of more than $1.4 million in a real estate scheme connected to Sierra Title offices in El Paso met Tuesday morning to discuss the ongoing lawsuit and efforts to identify more victims.

According to attorney David J. Morales, more than 35 homebuyers have filed suit against Sierra Title Company, claiming they made down payments ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for homes they never received.

The buyers say they were directed to meet at Sierra Title’s Mesa Street or Lee Trevino offices, which they allege gave the transactions an appearance of legitimacy.

The lawsuit accuses individuals working out of Sierra Title offices of accepting payments and promising closings within 30 days — closings that never occurred. Victims claim the money was never returned.

Attorneys David Joseph Morales and Francisco F. Macias, who represent the group, said they hope the meeting will not only update victims on the case’s progress but also encourage others who may have been affected to come forward.

The lawsuits follow federal fraud charges filed last year against a Sierra Title and Escrow officer in McAllen, which ABC-7 first reported in July 2024.