A couple from Florida is currently facing charges for carrying out a simple yet effective property scam that costs less than a dollar to execute. Victor Rodriguez, aged 50, and his wife Michelle Cherry, aged 33, are accused of fraudulently transferring ownership of homes by forging “quitclaim deeds” in Tampa and Miami-Dade County, as reported by Fox News.
The scam came to light when Caroline Sauer, Rodriguez’s ex-wife, discovered that her father’s properties had been illegally transferred using forged quitclaim deeds. “We were shocked. How could this happen? Who would forge a deceased person’s signature?” Ms. Sauer expressed.
Authorities revealed that the scam involved the manipulation of quitclaim deeds, which are legal documents used to transfer property ownership with the owner’s consent. Unfortunately, these documents can be easily tampered with. Fraudsters only require a notary and two signatures to process the transaction, often at a cost as low as 70 cents in Florida.
Rodriguez and Cherry also attempted the same scam on a property in Tampa owned by Larry and Dreama Bilby. The Bilbys were shocked to discover that someone had forged their signatures and transferred ownership of their unoccupied home, which was still under construction at the time.
“I was furious, I was speechless,” Dreama Bilby shared with Fox13.
Hillsborough County Clerk Cindy Stuart explained how simple it was to carry out this type of fraud. “All it takes is a notary and two signatures with an address next to them,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Caroline Sauer and her family are currently in a legal battle with her ex-husband. “The most challenging part for us emotionally has been trying to protect my father and his legacy,” she revealed.
To prove the forgery, Ms. Sauer’s family enlisted the help of a handwriting expert and incurred substantial legal fees.
Rodriguez and Cherry were arrested in March and have pleaded not guilty. Rodriguez’s legal team asserts his innocence. “Mr. Rodriguez maintains his innocence, and our office is dedicated to safeguarding his rights,” stated his lawyers, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring justice and fairness throughout the legal proceedings.
