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Criminal probes ramp up following WWL-TV's Un-Real Estate investigation

Jonathan Burden is accused of tricking property owners into paying him thousands of dollars and handing him their houses for almost nothing.

David Hammer / WWL Louisiana Investigator

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Published: 6:45 PM CDT June 6, 2023
Updated: 1:53 PM CDT June 13, 2023

Following a series of reports by WWL-TV, federal authorities and New Orleans police are ramping up separate criminal probes into a man accused of preying on property owners in financial distress, several sources tell the TV station.

Jonathan Burden is accused in at least seven lawsuits of tricking property owners into paying him thousands of dollars and handing him their houses for almost nothing, by making them think he’s helping them avoid foreclosure.

The New Orleans Police Department confirmed its white-collar crime unit is investigating a forged deed that was used to take a man’s house and transfer it to Burden, who immediately sold it for $100,000. Separately, three sources with direct knowledge of the investigation confirm the FBI has sought corporate records associated with the forged deed and interviews with Burden’s alleged victims.

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