Show-Me State Times

A man from Berkeley, Missouri, appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged scheme involving the fraudulent transfer of ownership for 16 homes and a duplex.

James L. Townes Jr., 50, was first charged by complaint on June 10, 2025. He was indicted by a grand jury on June 25 with several counts including mail fraud, access device fraud, unlawful production of an authentication feature, identity theft, and aggravated identity theft. A superseding indictment filed on August 6 increased the total number of counts against Townes to 25. These include conspiracy, mail fraud, access device fraud, fraudulently effecting transactions, unlawful production of an authentication feature, identity theft and aggravated identity theft.

In a separate case also filed August 6, Townes faces one count of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud and four counts of theft of government funds.

According to the superseding indictment, between September 2018 and April 2025 Townes and Charnay Bartlett allegedly used fraudulent deeds to transfer ownership of multiple properties without authorization. The indictment states that they stole the identities of property owners and forged signatures as well as notarized documents illegally to carry out these transfers. It also alleges that Townes continued these activities after his notary license was suspended.

Bartlett is charged with one count each of conspiracy and fraudulently effecting transactions along with four counts each for unlawful production of an authentication feature and identity theft.

The second indictment accuses Townes of falsely claiming disability status from February 2017 through August 6, 2025. Prosecutors allege he claimed he had no bank account or resources and could not perform basic physical tasks while operating Tied Tight Entertainment as well as acting as registered agent for thirteen other LLCs. The indictment further says he owned two investment accounts during this period in addition to being commissioned as a notary public and filing 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 investigation involved the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (https://www.hudoig.gov/), Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (https://oig.ssa.gov/), St. Louis County Police Department (https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/police-department/), and Hazelwood Police Department (https://www.hazelwoodmo.org/167/Police-Department). Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.