A Houston woman arrested for fraud and identity theft 14 years ago is allegedly back — and seemingly on the hunt for luxury homes.
In an internal email obtained by The Real Deal, Martha Turner Sotheby’s warned its agents that a woman going by the name Katherine Milliken has asked to view or tour several Houston properties listed with the firm.
A woman by the same name was arrested in 2008 for allegedly presenting herself as a physician and a Houston Police Department forensic pathologist to fraudulently raise money and steal victims’ identities, according to a Houston Chronicle story from the time that was attached to the email.
“She is also believed to have made an offer on one of our listings,” Allison Johanson, Martha Turner Sotheby’s VP of Sales, wrote in the email dated Sept. 1. “She may present herself as purchasing through an LLC, as well.”
Johanson noted that Milliken may also have used different aliases in her contacts with agents, and attached a photo of the Houston Chronicle story, which featured Milliken’s 2008 mugshot.
Johanson said neither Martha Turner Sotheby’s nor any of its agents would have any further comment.
The 2008 report noted that Milliken was 57 years old at the time of her arrest, which would make her 71 now.
The alleged scam that ultimately led police to Milliken 14 years ago was a ploy offering to host meetings of a local model airplane club at a building she claimed to own on Travelair Street in southeast Houston, Allegations included that she would have members fill out personal information forms in order to get access to the building. She then used their personal information to open charge accounts.
Police said that Milliken ran up more than $100,000 in charges under one person’s name, and tens of thousands of dollars under the names of other victims. It is not clear from press coverage at the time whether Milliken was convicted.
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