Stein
Murphy – A local real estate broker is under investigation for allegedly forging water analysis reports.
Joy Stein, owner of Vista Realty Inc., allegedly forged a water bacteria report associated with 2723 Grape Creek Road, according to documents obtained from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and health department via a public records request.
The water report says a sample was collected May 10 by Jason Bryson, a building contractor in Blue Ridge, Ga., and lists Julie Peterson as the local lab technician who tested the sample on May 11. However, Bryson and Peterson both deny involvement in the water quality test.
The health department contacted Bryson earlier this month after a mortgage processor requested a copy of the water report. The underwriter for the loan was concerned about discrepancies in the report and wanted it to come directly from county health officials.
“There was a water quality test done for a home sale conducted by Vista Realty, in which the test initially showed a result of clean water that met health regulation standards,” a police report associated with the alleged forgery says. “But after the residents of that home began to get sick, another water quality test showed the water was contaminated and making the occupants sick.”
Bryson told officials he has never collected a water sample at the aforementioned property. He told police he had a working relationship with Vista Realty when he lived and worked in Cherokee County 10 years ago. He believes Stein has old paperwork that contains his contractor license number, which was listed on the fraudulent water reports.
After health department officials determined the water report was fraudulent and alerted the appropriate parties, Stein reportedly contacted Peterson and admitted to forging the paperwork.
“Ms. Stein stated that she knew it was a sample from a spring and that it would test positive,” Peterson wrote in a letter to the sheriff’s office. “She was not going to let anyone drink the water, she just needed a negative report so the loan would go through and she could close [on this home]. She asked if I could just go along with it coming through the fax machine that way so she would not get into trouble.”
Peterson’s letter further states that she found Bryson’s name and contractor license number on seven other water reports from the past few months. However, Bryson told health officials he hasn’t submitted a water sample to Cherokee County Health Department in more than three years.
In addition to notifying law enforcement officials, the health department reported the matter to the N.C. Real Estate Commission. If the commission determines Stein violated laws or regulations, it could suspend or revoke her real estate license.
Moreover, Stein may face forgery charges. The sheriff’s office has contacted the District Attorney’s Office as well as the State Bureau of Investigation.
“I am requesting, per the county attorney, that the SBI conduct the investigation into the allegations as Cherokee County Health Department is a material player in the investigation,” Sheriff Derrick Palmer wrote in an email to state officials. “If the SBI does not accept the request, please let me know at your earliest convenience so that our detectives can proceed with an investigation.”
Stein declined to comment on the matter due to the ongoing investigation.