A couple from Florida, Victor Rodriguez, 50, and Michelle Cherry, 33, are facing charges for allegedly defrauding homeowners by forging quitclaim deeds on properties in Tampa and Miami-Dade County. Among the properties targeted was one owned by Rodriguez’s former father-in-law, as reported by WTVT-TV News.
Caroline Sauer, Rodriguez’s ex-wife, discovered the fraudulent activity when she noticed that the titles of her father’s properties had been transferred via quitclaim deeds. She expressed her disbelief and shock at the audacity of the couple, particularly for forging the signature of a deceased person.
Quitclaim deeds are legal documents that transfer property ownership with the owner’s consent. However, in Florida, these documents can be exploited by fraudsters who forge signatures and acquire the title for a mere 70 cents in processing costs, according to the Daily Mail. Most states lack stringent regulations to prevent such fraudulent activities.
Rodriguez and Cherry are also accused of using the same scam to take over the home of Larry and Dreama Bilby in Tampa. The Bilbys, whose home was under construction and unoccupied, were stunned to learn in February that they had supposedly signed over their home at the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office, which they had not.
Hillsborough County Clerk Cindy Stuart explained that the forgery only requires a notary and two signatures with an address listed next to them. Mike Lennon, a prosecutor in Florida, noted that such scams are becoming increasingly common, equating property theft to stealing the American dream.
Rodriguez and Cherry were arrested in March and have pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges. Lawyers for Rodriguez issued a statement maintaining his innocence and asserting their commitment to protecting his rights and ensuring justice and fairness in legal proceedings.