The State of Mexico property dispossession arrests have led to 23 detentions—including notaries and public servants—uncovering a criminal network that forged documents and intimidated victims to seize homes and businesses.
Authorities in the State of Mexico arrested 23 individuals for allegedly running a coordinated scheme to seize citizens’ properties, including homes, commercial premises, and warehouses. The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Mexico (FGJEM) announced the detentions on May 31, 2025, as part of “Operation Restitution.” Among those taken into custody were three notaries public, five state and municipal public servants, and members of several social organizations accused of collaborating to forge documents and intimidate rightful owners.
Investigators traced at least five criminal groups—known as USON, GOPEZ, Los 300, 22 de octubre, and Los Gastones—that specialized in manipulating registry records and pressuring victims to transfer property titles. “These groups acted in a coordinated manner to dispossess citizens of properties,” the FGJEM reported. Authorities say the networks leveraged corrupt contacts within the Instituto de la Función Registral del Estado de México (IFREM) and the cadastral department to validate fraudulent paperwork and conceal illegal transfers.
The arrested public servants included employees from municipal registry offices in municipalities across the Valley of Mexico and eastern regions of the state. Investigators allege these officials accepted bribes or other incentives to approve falsified documents that reassigned property ownership without the knowledge or consent of the lawful owners. Notaries public—tasked with certifying real estate transactions—face accusations of certifying forged deeds and contracts.
Operation Restitution began after a series of complaints from homeowners who discovered that fraudulent registrations had transferred their properties to third parties. In some cases, business owners found strangers occupying their warehouses; in others, families returned from travel to find their deeds invalidated. Early inquiries uncovered that syndicates had identified vulnerable properties—often belonging to elderly or absent owners—and manipulated public records over several years.
Each of the five identified criminal cells focused on specific tactics:
- USON specialized in forging wills and inheritance documents to claim vacant homes.
- GOPEZ targeted small-business owners by producing counterfeit lease agreements and forging signatures.
- Los 300 focused on industrial warehouses, using threats to coerce owners into “selling” their assets.
- 22 de octubre operated mainly in the eastern region, manipulating IFREM records to create fake titles.
- Los Gastones recruited inside agents within municipal cadastral offices to fast-track false registrations.
Investigators say the syndicates relied on intimate knowledge of property records and relationships with certain registry employees. “We discovered multiple cases where a single notary public certified false deeds for properties they never inspected,” said an FGJEM spokesperson. “Once notarized, those forged titles moved quickly through the system, leaving victims unaware until it was too late.”
Under Operation Restitution, FGJEM agents executed search warrants at registry offices, notary chambers, and private residences. They seized computers, hard drives, and stacks of document templates used to produce fraudulent paperwork. Officials also arrested several IFREM employees and cadastral staff who allegedly helped “regularize” illicit transfers by altering records in state databases. Criminal proceedings have already been filed against 12 members of these institutions. Investigators say additional arraignment hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks for other implicated public servants and notaries.
The scheme reportedly affected dozens of families and business owners across municipalities such as Nezahualcóyotl, Ecatepec, Ixtapaluca, Texcoco, and Chalco. One victim, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, recalled discovering a forged deed when attempting to renew her property tax certificate. “I had lived in my home for 30 years,” she said. “Then someone else claimed ownership, and I had no legal way to prove it was mine.” Through interviews and forensic analysis of registry data, FGJEM agents reconstructed how the syndicates inserted false entries into official ledgers.
Local authorities believe that the networks operated with tacit approval—or at least willful blindness—of certain municipal officials. “Our findings show that in some cases, notaries and public servants coordinated directly with criminal cells,” said the FGJEM spokesperson. “This is not a series of isolated incidents; it’s a systemic abuse that undermined trust in our property registration process.”
In response, the state’s attorney general announced plans to review and strengthen oversight of registry offices. Proposed measures include mandatory rotation of registry personnel, digital tracking of document approvals, and stricter auditing of notaries’ transactions. Officials also plan to launch a public awareness campaign, urging property owners to verify their titles annually and report any discrepancies.
Experts say property dispossession rings have long plagued parts of the State of Mexico, exploiting gaps in oversight and record-keeping. Real estate fraud often targets victims who live abroad or in rural areas, where monitoring local property records can be difficult. By forging identity papers, utility bills, and even death certificates, criminal networks create an appearance of legitimacy that fools registry systems. Once a forged title gets recorded, reversing the process can be expensive, time-consuming, and legally complex.
The FGJEM’s announcement did not name all 23 detainees, citing ongoing investigations and the need to protect victims. However, court documents list several key suspects: the notaries have been identified by initials A.M.V., J.H.R., and C.L.G.; public servants include registrars L.P.M. and S.C.T., among others. Arrest warrants remain outstanding for additional participants believed to be hiding in other states.
Prosecutors hope the high-profile arrests will deter similar networks and encourage citizens to inspect their property titles regularly. In a statement, the FGJEM urged anyone who suspects fraud to come forward and file a complaint. Authorities also promised to expedite cases involving older victims or those facing imminent eviction.
The network’s exposure has sparked debate on the need for more transparent and tamper-proof property systems. Some experts advocate moving records to fully digital platforms with blockchain-style verification, making it nearly impossible to alter titles without detection. Others propose community-based watchdog groups that monitor local registry offices and report irregularities to state authorities.
As criminal proceedings unfold, affected property owners await court rulings that could restore their titles. “Operation Restitution marks a turning point,” said María López, a lawyer specializing in real estate law. “These arrests send a clear message: anyone who uses corruption or coercion to steal property will face justice.” Whether this effort permanently disrupts dispossession networks depends on sustained oversight and public vigilance.
The FGJEM has pledged continued collaboration with federal authorities to track down financiers and organizers who remain at large. For now, 23 suspects sit in detention, charged with property dispossession, document forgery, and abuse of public duties. Trials and further investigations will likely reveal deeper ties between criminal cells and corrupt officials. In the meantime, families whose homes were threatened can take comfort in facing the courts with state support and a promise that “Operation Restitution” will leave no stone unturned.