Duo Facing Burglary, Theft Charges For Allegedly Recording Bogus Documents To Hijack Control Of Over Two Dozen Vacant Chicago-Area Foreclosures, Then Renting Them Out To Unwitting Tenants Get Hauled Back To Jail After Violating Release Terms; Defendants' Crackpot Claims Include Adverse Possession, 'Sovereign Citizen'

In Chicago, Illinois, WFLD-TV Channel 32 reports:

• Two men suspected of running a scam in which they took over and rented out abandoned properties are behind bars [] after prosecutors lobbied a judge to raise their bonds, the Sun-Times is reporting.
  
  Chicagoans Torrez Moore and David Farr were released on their own recognizance, with home monitoring, July 1 after allegedly living in and renting out over two dozen foreclosed homes in a scheme Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez described as “disturbing” and “bold and brazen.”
  
  But in court Wednesday, Judge Peggy Chiampas raised bond to $1 million for Farr. Prosecutors asked for the increase, claiming he violated the conditions of his electronic monitoring and showed up at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office. Moore’s bond was raised to $500,000.
  
  Both remained in the Cook County Jail as of late Wednesday afternoon.
  
  Moore and Farr, who identify as “anti-government sovereign citizens,” took advantage of the mortgage crisis and filed bogus documents with the Recorder of Deeds to pose as landlords, Alvarez said earlier this month. She detailed the scam with other law enforcement officials involved in the investigation, the Sun-Times reported at the time.
  
  Self-styled “sovereign citizens” claim federal and state laws do not apply to them.
  
  Moore and Farr lived in two of the 14 dilapidated properties in question and changed locks so real estate agents couldn’t get in, Assistant State’s Attorney Wayne Jakalski said at their initial bond hearing.
  
  They also allegedly posted “No Trespassing” signs in front of the homes, where families lived—many knowing their occupancy was unlawful.
  
  Eight to nine “squatters” were living in one of the single-family homes, Jakalski said. Most of the families paid $500 a month in rent, and Moore was tutoring the others in the scheme, Alvarez said.
  
  Moore, 55; and Farr, 45, also known as Fahim Ali, are charged with burglary, theft and financial institution fraud. Arrest warrants have also been issued for two alleged accomplices: Raymond Trimble, 52, of Markham; and Arshad Thomas, 26.
  
  All fourteen properties have since been boarded and secured, Alvarez said.
  
  Moore was living at 10821 S. Wood St., one of the homes targeted in the investigation, and claimed he owned four others, prosecutors said. Farr was living at 10941 S. Wood, and had illegal possession of eight other homes, prosecutors said. Trimble allegedly claimed adverse possession of a home at 5501 N. Virginia Ave.

Source: Pair charged in 'squatter scheme' back in jail after judge sets higher bonds.

In a follow-up story, see Alleged 'criminal masterminds' claim they've done nothing wrong, following law (may require subscription; try here, then click appropriate link if no subscription):

• "Torrez Moore and Fahim Ali (also known as David Farr and Javani Ali) filed adverse possession applications or mechanics liens on 107 properties, mostly houses in foreclosure, several in the Beverly and Morgan Park communities."