TO:Office of Congressman Scott Franklin, FL-18
FROM:Alice Marie Bruce,Constituent
DATE:02/24/2026
RE:UPDATE-Ongoing Foreclosure Fraud Against Bruce Family,867 Hanover
Way,Lakeland,FL 33813-Request for Congressional Assistance
Dear Congressman Franklin and Staff,
Thank you for your office’s ongoing attention to our case. I am writing to provide a
critical update on the foreclosure fraud being committed against our family’s home at
867 Hanover Way,Lakeland, FL 33813, and to request your office’s help in several specific
ways.
BACKGROUND
As your office is aware, my family has been fighting to protect our Lakeland home
from entities that have no legitimate claim to our property. Since we last communicated, I
have obtained the complete chain of title from the Polk County public records, and the
evidence of fraud is now overwhelming and fully documented.
KEY FACTS DISCOVERED
1. Our mortgage was RELEASED.On September 8,2022,the original lender,Lenders Direct
Capital Corporation,recorded a Full Release of Mortgage (Polk County Doc
#2022243934),certifying that the debt was fully paid,satisfied,released, and
discharged.The lien was legally extinguished.
2. JPMorgan Chase assigned an extinguished mortgage. On May 8,2025-nearly three
years after the release-Chase recorded TWO assignments of this already-released
mortgage on the same day (Doc #2025108383 and #2025108384). The first was a
self-assignment (Chase assigning to Chase). The second was Chase assigning to Select
Portfolio Servicing, Inc.(SPS), a Chase affiliate. Both were signed by the same person
at Chase’s document execution facility in Louisiana.
3. Chase has no connection to our mortgage. Chase claims authority through the FDIC
receivership of Washington Mutual Bank.However,Washington Mutual was NEVER
the lender on our mortgage and appears NOWHERE in the chain of title. Our
original lender was Lenders Direct Capital Corporation.
4. Our home was sold without our consent. On June 3, 2025,a Trustee’s Deed was
recorded (Doc #2025128691) conveying our home to US Bank National Association
for $450,100.This deed lists me,Alice Marie Bruce, as the “seller. I did not
authorize,execute,or consent to this sale.
5. US Bank admits it’s not the owner. US Bank has acknowledged in writing that it is not
the owner of the trust that purportedly holds an interest in our property. US Bank
appears nowhere in the chain of title as a mortgage holder or assignee.
6. They are now trying to profit from our home. The property was listed on the MLS in
November 2025 for $623,898 (MLS #L4957266).
7. The first foreclosure attempt was already dismissed. A prior foreclosure filed by LaSalle
Bank in 2008 (Case #2008CA-011290) was dismissed in January 2014. There is no
recorded assignment from LaSalle Bank to any other entity. The chain of title dated
that point.
STATUS OF FEDERAL CASE
We have an active appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Case No. 25-
12152)and have filed supplemental exhibits including Roy’s sworn affidavit, the recorded
release of mortgage, the 2025 assignments, and documentation proving that the Appellees do
not appear in the legitimate chain of title. However, the federal court has been reluctant to
act,relying on the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. We are now preparing to file a Quiet Title action
in Polk County Circuit Court, which is the proper forum for resolving title disputes.
HOW YOUR OFFICE CAN HELP
Congressman Franklin, I am respectfully requesting your office’s assistance in the
following ways:
8. Congressional Inquiry to the FDIC. Chase claims its authority over our mortgage comes
from the FDIC receivership of Washington Mutual Bank. Your office can submit a
formal inquiry to the FDIC asking them to confirm or deny whether our specific loan
(Loan #0691043813,originally with Lenders Direct Capital Corporation) was among the
assets transferred to Chase in the WaMu receivership. If it was not-and we believe it
was not-this would be definitive proof that Chase’s assignments are fraudulent.
9. Congressional Inquiry to the OCC. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
regulates JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Your office can submit an inquiry to the OCC
requesting an investigation into Chase’s practice of recording assignments of
mortgages that have been previously released, and specifically the two assignments
recorded on May 8,2025, in Polk County.
10.Referral to the CFPB.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has jurisdiction over
mortgage servicing abuses. Your office can refer this matter to the CFPB for
investigation of Chase and Select Portfolio Servicing’s conduct in manufacturing
standing and foreclosing on a released mortgage.
11.Referral to the FBI/DOJ.The recording of false instruments in public records and the
unauthorized use of a person’s name on a deed are potential federal crimes, including
wire fraud and mail fraud (18 U.S.C. §1341, §1343), bank fraud (18 U.S.C. §1344), and
filing false documents. Your office can refer this matter to the FBI and the
U.S.Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for criminal investigation.
12.Support for Federal Legislation. This problem is not unique to our family. Thousands of
homeowners nationwide are affected by the same practices. I have prepared a
legislative proposal called “The Chain of Title Integrity Act” that would prevent banks
from assigning released mortgages and require chain of title verification before
foreclosure.I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you and would be
grateful for your support in introducing similar protections at the federal level.
SUMMARY TIMELINE
Sept 8,2022:Mortgage fully released by original lender (Doc #2022243934)
Aug 2024-Feb 2025:US Bank files 3 Notices of Foreclosure Sale-no recorded interest
Mar 5,2025:We file Lis Pendens (INSTR #2025049446) putting world on notice
May 8,2025: Chase records self-assignment +assignment to SPS of released mortgage
OCURRANCE
Jun 3,2025: Trustee’s Deed to US Bank-lists Alice as “seller” ; without consent
Nov 2025: Property listed on MLS for $623,898
I have all recorded documents, the Home Title Lock Transaction Detail Report,Roy’s
sworn affidavit, and the US Bank letter available for your office’s review. I am happy to provide
these immediately upon request or to meet with your casework staff at the Lakeland office to go
through them in person.
Congressman Franklin,my family has been fighting this for years. We are a Lakeland
family. Roy has suffered a heart attack and two strokes during this ordeal. We are representing
ourselves because no attorney will take our case. The evidence is clear: our mortgage was paid
off, the lien was released, and banks are now recording false documents to steal our home. We
need your help.
Congressman Franklin, No Florida Law currently prohibits a bank from assigning a mortgage that has already been released. No law prevents a bank from recording a self assignment to manufacture a chain of titles. No law requires a party to prove how they purchased the mortgage and if it is still active before recording an assignment. These are gaps that banks are actively exploiting to steal homes from Florida families. This must STOP!
Thank you for everything your office has done so far, and thank you for your continued
service to the families of Florida’s 18th District.
Alie Marie Bruce
867 Hanover Way
Lakeland,F1 33813
863-640-8169
alicemariebruce@gmail.com
Constituent,FL-18
Enclosures:
1.Home Title Lock Transaction Detail Report(complete chain of title)
2.Full Release of Mortgage (Doc #2022243934)
3.Chase Self-Assignment (Doc #2025108383)
4.Chase-to-SPS Assignment (Doc #2025108384)
5.Trustee’s Deed to US Bank (Doc #2025128691)
6.Roy W.Bruce,Jr.Sworn Affidavit
7.US Bank letter acknowledging non-ownership of trust
8.The Chain of Title Integrity Act-Legislative Proposal
Alice Bruce
Mobile:1+863-640-8169