Church subject of deed scam

NEW YORK, May 11 (UPI) -- A Brooklyn, N.Y., church was allegedly stolen by one of its parishioners and sold to a developer in a deed scam, authorities say.

The New York Daily News reported Sunday that a con man used a deed scam that's become increasingly prevalent to sell the Free Mission Action Movement Church, which sits on four adjacent lots on Sutter Avenue in New York.

The $1 million church property was allegedly stolen by Derrick Jones, 43, who managed to get the city register to record forged deeds. To help make the scam look legitimate, two notaries public and one of the nation's biggest title companies were allegedly used for the transaction.

The pastor of the church, Bishop Walter Dunlap, said the church tried to help Jones, who has multiple sclerosis.

"We helped him, we gave him food and shelter, he would come by with his wife and leave his kids here for babysitting, and then he did this: He forged my name on deeds and stole the church and the land," said Dunlap, church founder. "What he did is so wicked."

The city register's office, where deeds are filed, does not review documents for authenticity, the newspaper said.