A Florida couple is accused of stealing property through a simple scam that costs less than a dollar to pull off. Victor Rodriguez, 50, and his wife Michelle Cherry, 33, allegedly forged quitclaim deeds to illegally transfer ownership of homes, including one owned by Rodriguez's ex-father-in-law, in Tampa and Miami-Dade County, Fox News reported.
Caroline Sauer, Rodriguez's ex-wife, discovered the scam when she discovered her father's properties had changed hands through quitclaim deeds. “We wondered: how did this happen?” said Mrs. Sauer. “Who forges the signature of a dead person? Who does that?”
According to authorities, the scam involved forging signatures on quitclaim deeds – a legal document that transfers title with the owner's consent. However, these documents can be easily manipulated. Fraudsters only need a notary and two signatures to process the transaction, often for as little as 70 cents in Florida.
Rodriguez and Cherry allegedly used the same scam at another Tampa estate belonging to Larry and Dreama Bilby. The Bilbys were stunned to learn in February that someone had forged their signatures and transferred ownership of their home, which was vacant and under construction at the time.
“I was so angry I could barely talk,” Dreama Bilby told Fox13.
Hillsborough County Clerk Cindy Stuart explained how easy it was to commit the fraud. “All it takes is a notary and two signatures with an address next to it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Caroline Sauer and her family are fighting her ex-husband in court. “The hardest part for us has been emotional, just trying to protect my father and his legacy,” she told the outlet.
To prove the forgery, Ms. Sauer's family hired a handwriting expert and incurred significant legal fees.
Rodriguez and Cherry were arrested in March and pleaded not guilty. Rodriguez's legal team maintains his innocence. “Mr. Rodriguez maintains his innocence, and our office is charged with the responsibility of protecting his rights,” his attorneys said in a statement, adding that they are committed to ensuring “justice and fairness in legal proceedings.”