MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING LAND…THAT WASN’T HIS

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO SELLING LAND…THAT WASN’T HIS

Jesse Ian Smith entered a guilty plea on March 2, 2026 to Obtaining Money by False Pretenses in Kanawha County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge Jennifer Bailey.

The investigation showed Smith, acting with others, carried out a fraudulent real estate scheme involving a property on Martins Branch Road in Charleston. A fake quitclaim deed was created using forged signatures and a fraudulent notary stamp.

The fraudulent deed was then used to transfer ownership of the property and collect $10,000 from a buyer. As a result, the rightful property owners suffered financial loss and have been unable to sell their property due to the illegal transfer.  

This case was investigated by Sgt. J.L. Miller, an area commander and K9 Handler with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office along with our Detective Bureau. They  worked closely with the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s Office throughout the process. This is not a typical crime that gets reported, and it required extensive follow-up, attention to detail, and coordination to uncover the full scope of the fraud. Sgt. Miller and our Detectives went above and beyond to ensure justice for the victims and to assist in getting their rightful property returned to them.

Smith was sentenced to 1 to 10 years in prison, to be served concurrently with a separate felony sentence he is already serving. Additional charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, and the court is still considering restitution for the victims.