PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced a lawsuit against Edward Trenton Albarracin (aka Trenton Edwards) and Gretchen Marie Zamjahn (aka Gretchen Edwards), along with more than 50 entities they controlled, for allegedly running a predatory real estate scheme that stripped vulnerable homeowners of their property.
The defendants operated under several misleading names such as “Hands with Hope,” advertising themselves as professionals who could “rescue” homeowners from foreclosure. According to the complaint, their promises were a lie. Instead of helping homeowners in need, Albarracin and Zamjahn tricked them into signing over the deeds to their homes.
“These scammers pretended to offer a lifeline to homeowners in crisis — but in reality, they were stealing people’s homes out from under them,” said Attorney General Mayes. “This scheme specifically targeted elderly Arizonans who were already struggling, and it used lies, shell companies, and even illegal notarizations to pull it off. Let me be clear: anyone who tries to profit by exploiting vulnerable Arizonans will be held accountable by my office.”
Details of scheme:
- The defendants contacted homeowners facing foreclosure and offered to bring their mortgages current so they could remain in their homes.
- Victims were told they needed to “temporarily” transfer the deed into a trust.
- In reality, those deeds were transferred to deceptively named shell LLCs such as “Lupo Family Trust, LLC,” which were entirely controlled by Albarracin.
- Albarracin signed the deeds on behalf of the companies, while Zamjahn illegally notarized the transactions, despite having a direct financial interest as his spouse.
- Victims were further misled and pressured to file false bankruptcy or probate cases to prolong the scam.
Attorney General Mayes’ lawsuit alleges unfair practices under the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and exploitation of vulnerable adults under the Adult Protective Services Act. The complaint also seeks to void any transactions improperly notarized by Zamjahn.
Given the scope of the fraud and concerns over the defendant's’ financial situation, Attorney General Mayes also sought an emergency receivership over all of Albarracin and Zamjahn’s assets. On August 20, Judge Scott Minder granted the request and appointed Peter Davis as receiver to secure the defendants’ real estate, vehicles, and cash accounts.
Evidence presented to the court also showed that Albarracin, who recently suffered a series of strokes following a cancer diagnosis, may himself now be vulnerable to financial exploitation by others, furthering the need of a receivership.
Attorney General Mayes is seeking restitution for victim, civil penalties against the real estate operators, and a permanent injunction preventing Albarracin and Zamjahn from buying or selling real estate in Arizona ever again.
Attorney General Mayes also urges Arizonans to come forward if they believe they have been approached by strangers offering to buy their home or pressured to sign over their deed.
“I will go after any scam artists targeting homeowners, especially those targeting vulnerable adults and senior citizens” said Attorney General Mayes. “I urge anyone who believes they’ve been victimized to contact my office immediately.”
The case, State of Arizona v. Edward Trenton Albarracin, Gretchen Zamjahn, et al., No. CV2025-029139, is being handled by Senior Litigation Counsel Shane Ham and Assistant Attorneys General Liza Lawson and Suzanne Pendergast of the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section.