C. Florida Man Charged For Allegedly Hijacking Title, Possession Of Vacant Homes In Foreclosure, Then Ripping Off $30K By Renting To Unwitting Tenants

In Pasco County, Florida, The Tampa Tribune reports:

• Pasco County deputies arrested a 43-year-old man Friday and accused him of collecting $30,000 in rent money on properties he didn't own. George Allen Ola Jr., of 8831 Garden Party St., is charged with scheme to defraud. He posted a $10,000 bail and was released shortly after his arrest last week. Ola couldn't be reached for comment on Monday.

• Investigators said Ola entered a contract with Bay Vista Realty in May to lease the properties he said he owned. Ola provided Bay Vista with notarized copies of quit claim deeds that were filed with the Pasco County clerk of court.

***

• Neither the homeowners nor lien holders authorized the homes to be leased, according to an arrest report. The renters were told to mail their rent in the form of money orders or cashier's checks to a P.O. Box in Tampa owned by Ola, the report states.

• The issue was first reported to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office in August, an incident report states. A Pinellas County attorney representing one of the homeowners called the office and told a deputy that a family was living in his client's home while his client was living in Brazil.

For more, see Land O' Lakes man charged with renting out homes he didn't own.