A woman from Central Florida was recently sentenced for deed fraud.
Amy Linn Ramirez, 49, of Belleview, Florida, was found guilty of unlawful filing of false documents or records on real or personal property. After her conviction, Judge Timothy McCourt sentenced Ramirez to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
On October 26, 2024, a real estate agent notified the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) about a suspicious incident. An MCSO deputy arrived at a residence off SE 123rd Lane in Belleview, where the complainant stated that she had come to conduct a final walk-through and sign paperwork to close the sale of the property to the victim. When they arrived, they were greeted by a handyman who had changed the home’s locks and refused to give them the key, claiming that he had been hired by the homeowner, Amy Ramirez, to do so.
During the investigation, the real estate agent discovered fake paperwork filed by Ramirez related to the property. A forged warranty deed was submitted while the property was under contract with the present owner. Ramirez was called by law enforcement, who established that she had never lived on or owned the victim’s property but claimed to be researching abandoned property regulations.
She filed a ‘quiet title’ to assert ownership, claiming it was a civil matter. Ramirez was ultimately arrested and charged.
Assistant State Attorney William Harris successfully prosecuted this case.
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