TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller is trying to curb property fraud by encouraging homeowners to sign up for the fraud alert system. The renewed push to protect homeowners comes after a recent spike in cases across Hillsborough County.
“It’s complicated, but this is a paperwork crime,” said Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez. “This is a crime that can be committed just by the use of paperwork. These are people who are using titles and deeds to take over people’s homes and to take over their livelihood.
” In March, Michelle Cherry of Tampa was arrested and charged with fraudulent use of personal information. According to a police report, Cherry “filed a quit claim deed for the victim’s residence ..
. in order to legitimize her ownership of the victim’s resident ..
. to sell it without his knowledge.” “This lady is looking at over 275 years of incarceration for what she has done,” said Lopez.
“There’s a 10-year mandatory minimum associated with the fraudulent identity theft that she is alleged to have committed.” Body camera footage shows Cherry telling officers her name was on the property deed. “Ultimately, she’s looking at almost three centuries in prison for committing these crimes,” said Lopez.
The property belongs to Dreama and Larry Bilby. “You’re constantly on edge because they constantly returned to the house,” said Dreama Bilby. According to the FBI, property and mortgage fraud is th.
