Two men face federal charges after authorities say they attempted to sell foreclosed homes in Dallas County that they didn't own.
The Dallas Morning News reports that 63-year-old Melvin Ray Layman and 26-year-old Daylon Esaw are charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in a 15-count federal indictment.
Records show they filed forged quitclaim deeds that appeared to indicate the owners sold their homes to them. Authorities say they then filed lawsuits against banks that held liens on the houses in an attempt to force a legal settlement that would allow them to sell the homes.
Esaw remains in federal custody after a federal magistrate ruled he's a safety risk. He has been charged in two other federal cases.
Layman has been released pending trial.
It wasn't immediately clear if either man has an attorney.
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