Warning over simple loophole that glamorous ‘con-artist used to swindle couple’s home’ for just 70 cents
A glamorous woman and her husband allegedly scammed a couple out of their Tampa home in a brazen scam that cost just 70 cents.
Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez are accused of forging documents to evict homeowners from their properties, in a plot that has officials scrambling to change state laws.
Security footage captured at the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office shows the shocking moment Cherry and Rodriguez brazenly attempted to pull the same stunt in multiple cases, with the pair accused of walking away with deeds to three properties.
Now their alleged victims are struggling to get their own homes back and are facing a series of protracted legal battles, costing large sums of money and time to resolve.
Prosecutors allege Michelle Cherry (pictured) and her husband, Victor Rodriguez, stole three properties from unsuspecting homeowners
One of the homes Cherry and Rodriguez stole belonged to Larry and Drea Bilby (pictured), who are still fighting to get their names back on the deed to their property.
Prosecutors allege the pair confidently posed as different homeowners and spoke to clerks to apparently show them the forged documents.
During these appearances, Cherry and Rodriguez allegedly used fraudulent quit claim deeds in the scam.
Quit claim deeds – documents that quickly transfer ownership of a home – allow fraudsters to steal homes with frightening ease.
“They searched for properties they believed were abandoned, and then used online information to forge signatures on these deeds and file them with the clerk of courts,” Florida Attorney General Mike Lennon said. ABC.
Lennon said there has been a “major increase” in the number of these scams.
“If someone steals your property, it’s like stealing the American dream. It’s terrible,” he said.
The Bilbys were not living in the house when it was stolen because it was under construction
Security footage from the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office shows Cherry and Rodriguez visiting the property several times
According to prosecutors, Cherry and Rodriguez used their dirty tactics to steal Larry and Drea Bilby’s home.
‘Just like that your house is stolen. It’s gone,” Drea said.
“It only costs 70 cents and some paperwork,” Larry added.
The Bilbys were not living in their home when it was stolen because the property was under construction.
But the couple regularly checked their home’s security cameras. They have footage showing Cherry and her husband lurking around their property.
In the CCTV footage – taken on separate occasions – Rodriguez and Cherry appear to have parked their car in Bilby’s driveway. At certain points you can see the alleged fraudsters peering through the windows of the house.
‘They took away our energy bill and our water bill. They closed our name and put their name on it,” Larry Bilby said.
The fraud would have gone undetected had the county clerk’s office not been alarmed by the change in the title of the house.
“Every time something is filed against your property, you get an alert, whether it’s a phone call, a text or an email. It is a free service,” said Cindy Stuart, a local clerk.
Prosecutors say Cherry pulled off a scam that cost her just 70 cents
Cherry allegedly used “quit claim deeds” – documents that can quickly transfer ownership of a home – to commit her fraud
Even as Tampa police opened an investigation into Cherry, the alleged fraudster continued to frequent the Bilbys’ property.
Bodycam video shows her standing outside the house and insisting it is hers.
“I own it. I’m working on the current deed,” Cherry told police.
In March, Cherry and Rodriguez were both arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
Prosecutors believe that stealing the homes was just the first step in a broader nefarious scheme.
“They stole these properties with the intention of obtaining loans for the properties or selling them to unsuspecting buyers,” attorney Lennon said.
In March, Cherry and Rodriguez were both arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud
Victor Rodriguez (pictured) and his wife allegedly used ‘quit claim deeds’ – documents that can quickly transfer ownership of a house – to commit their fraud
Cherry and Rodriguez have both pleaded not guilty. Although Cherry had no comment, Rodriguez’s attorney said his client “maintains his innocence.”
If convicted, the suspects face a maximum sentence of 285 years in prison.
The Bilbys are still fighting to get their name back on the title of their home, but this has taken an enormous amount of money, time and legal work.
The ease with which Cherry and Rodriguez handled their alleged fraud has prompted some officials to call for stricter property laws that would make it harder to sell homes through quick claim deeds.
“The fact that the form is so simple and requires so little documentation is problematic,” Cindy Stuart said.
“If someone steals your property, it’s like stealing the American dream. It’s terrible,” said Florida Attorney General Mike Lennon
To avoid a similar scam, police say it is crucial to contact the local clerk’s office as they oversee titles and deeds.
Now every province offers homeowners access to the real estate fraud alert system.
It contacts people when the deed to their home has been changed. Drea urged homeowners to sign up for the free service.
“If you don’t sign up for the property fraud alert, you’re just asking for the possibility that the same thing happened to us,” she said.