Two Houston Lawyers Charged With Fraud

Two Houston lawyers, one who also is a Houston firefighter captain, are facing felony charges connected to an alleged mortgage fraud.

Firefighter and attorney Brian Storts, 47, faces a maximum of life in prison after being indicted on the first-degree felony of giving false statements to obtain credit, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Storts is accused of using fraudulent financial documents to buy a $400,000 house for another attorney who was being investigated in a different case, said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Lester Blizzard.

"The DA's office takes very seriously lawyers who have fallen in their duties and responsibilities to their clients," Blizzard said. "We're hopeful that a message will be sent to other lawyers about how they handle the funds of the people they represent."

'It was a scam'

Attorney Ricardo Baca was indicted in connection with the case against Storts. Baca came under suspicion after being accused of bilking a criminal defense lawyer out of $210,000 in exchange for part ownership of five cellular phone stores.

That deal never happened, Blizzard said after plea negotiations in court Tuesday.

"It was a scam," Blizzard said.

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Two Houston Lawyers Charged With Fraud