$105K Bail Set For Suspected "Deadbeat Dad" Pinched By Cops For Allegedly Hijacking Vacant Homes & Renting Them Out In Adverse Possession Racket

In Hillsborough County, Florida, The Brandon News & Tribune reports:

• A Valrico man whose company is accused of taking over homes and renting them without the owners' permission was jailed [last week] on a string of charges. George Williams, 41, was arrested at the Orient Road Jail [last week], records show. He is being held on $105,000 bail.

• Williams is charged with five counts of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, four counts of grand theft of $100,000 or more, two counts of second-degree grand theft, organized fraud for less than $20,000, organized fraud over $50,000 and a failure to pay child support. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for Williams on Tuesday.

• Last month, an 8 On Your Side investigation profiled Williams in a report that revealed his company, Brevkam Ventures LLC, took possession of several vacant properties, gained access to the houses, then rented them out. Williams' Brevkam Ventures filed paperwork with the property appraiser's office claiming an interest through Florida's adverse possession law in nine Hillsborough County properties.

• Adverse possession allows someone to take possession of an abandoned property if they live on it and pay property taxes on it for seven years. In a January telephone interview, Williams denied any involvement. "I have put nobody in no houses,'' Williams said. "I am not involved in any of the work.'' The name George Williams appears on each adverse possession form filed at the property appraiser's office.

• Two other companies, Homes for Americans LLC, and Chateau Lan LLC, are also actively taking possession of properties, claiming they are following the adverse possession law.

For more, see Valrico man charged with renting out homes he doesn't own.

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