A Gillette realtor accused of stealing the identities of three former employees and forging their signatures to collect higher commissions pleaded not guilty in Campbell County District Court on Friday.
Tami Leann Hinson, 57, appeared with her attorney, Ryan Healy, to enter a plea of not guilty before Campbell County District Judge James Michael Causey.
Hinson, owner of First Class Realty in Gillette, is facing six felonies. She’s accused of using the personal information of former employees Michael “M.G.” Stellpflug, Will Collier and Chad Friedt, and forging their signatures on the sale of foreclosed properties.
She’s accused of pocketing the more than $11,000 in commissions on the sale of three foreclosed properties with PennyMac Loan Services dating back to 2017, according to court documents.
Hinson told police that she, as the broker, had “the right to do anything I want with the information” because the three men were not employed by her at the time.
She then changed her story to say that both Friedt and Collier had given permission to use their names and had probably signed the contracts themselves because she didn’t forge anyone’s signatures, court documents state.
Hinson further stated the practice of using internal agents on foreclosure sales was a “paperwork thing” to “keep the foreclosure company from reducing what they pay us for doing the same job.”
Victim Wants ‘True Justice’
All three men stated that they were employed at the time the contracts were signed, and in fact went on to close more deals after.
Hinson did not have employment records to provide to police, according to the charging documents.
Stellpflug, who attended her arraignment Friday, told Cowboy State Daily that he did not receive the $2,484 commission that ended up on his taxes.
He said he wasn’t entirely surprised by Hinson’s plea, but thought it was still outstanding. He is looking forward to attending her trial, which has yet to be scheduled.
“In order for true justice to happen, all facts and all truths must be revealed,” Stellpflug said. “It’s probably impossible for that to happen without the forum of an open trial taking place.”
Friedt also attended Friday’s arraignment. He worked for Hinson for 10 months and described her as a demanding boss. He said he was employed with Hinson at the time that she allegedly signed his name.
He also stated that he’s not surprised she has been accused of these crimes.
“She’s been doing shady stuff for a long time,” he said.
If found guilty, each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
Jen Kocher can be reached at: Jen@CowboyStateDaily.com
