Adverse property possessors arrested for fraud

Statewide prosecutor and Hillsborough County detectives to drop the hammer on a company at the center of an eye on your side investigation. In February our senior investigative reporter Steve Andrews told us about three companies that broke into a vacant houses. Moved people and and they've collected rent all without the property owners' knowledge or permission. They claim. Tonight Steve explains the wall put him behind bars.

Chris McDonald flashed a nice -- for his mug shot at the Hillsborough county jail. The statewide prosecutor's office charged 47 year old McDonald a Plant City. And 37 year old Demetrius Lewis of -- a links with organized fraud. This today we'll send a clear message that if you do this type of scheme you'll go to jail in February we told you McDonald runs a company called -- land. It takes possession of vacant homes then -- people -- and without the permission of the property owner he says it's legal under Florida's adverse possession law. Adverse possession allows you to take possession of abandoned property if you live on it and pay taxes on it for seven years. Statewide prosecutor -- these people are breaking into homes removing furniture in some instances of the of the rightful owner of the property. And then just basically putting on their -- lots of living somebody else and in February McDonnell told me his operation was completely legitimate. That he took twenty homes in Hillsborough with plans to grab apply anymore. Shadowlands a procession of don't know the browns they can do over property that you have on the market. Unlike -- McDonald also grabbed the house that Downey can't -- daughter inherited from her mother. Brown and common reported their properties were stolen to the sheriff's office. I can look at it welcome any problems like that. Deputies inform them it was a civil matter quite honestly when we heard about this scandal late. -- when I was going you've got to be kidding me that this is happening we're -- about it. Our investigation found three companies McDonald's shots a lot homes for American drawn by jewel McNair. And -- come ventures run by George Williams grab scorers are vacant houses in Hillsborough County. Williams denied any involvement. But what -- renters radioed moving day and there's Williams a bigger than life detectives who arrested him for grand theft this house. The -- preached how this unique idea would solve the nation's housing problem.

Steve quite honestly the reason that are off the study involves I saw that interview -- McNair that you did and it really ticked me off of lot of people that were victimized by these guys and it was all in the name of money.

Now the past county sheriff's almost man -- lose this morning. -- prosecutions Lewis can't let out forms to show and teach others how to grab host using the scam. It talks told -- fraud is fraud so unpopular. So so far they've arrested George Williams taken -- than usual McNair semi committed suicide as in Michigan investigation ramp up this point. So the attorney general's office decided to move forward with some sort prosecution is that because Hillsborough county's attorney's office decided may be McNair McDonald's. You know they weren't gonna move forward with the case. Some people might say yes others might be more diplomatic and saying well it became multi jurisdictional matter so it was more suited. For the statewide prosecute what I do know is at the sheriff's office detectives were part of this after they realized it was a scam. And they're probably pretty thankful that the AG statewide prosecutor nick Cox. Solve these reports -- news channel like all right well this is as such it when you first product or attention you know is that even possible. That's what nick Cox and impossible task and an antagonist the AG's office has -- our thanks to.