A man named Olandis Hobbs, 37, was found guilty in Florida for using fake documents to take over a $700,000 condo near Panama City Beach. The jury took only 35 minutes to convict him. He was charged with grand theft, using someone else’s personal information fraudulently, filing false documents, and forgery.
Prosecutor Josh James called Hobbs a “squatter on steroids.” A squatter is someone who lives on a property without paying rent or having legal ownership. Hobbs was arrested on January 13, 2023. After his arrest, Florida passed a law to protect property owners more effectively.
The new law, House Bill 621, started on July 1. It makes it faster for police to handle property theft and allows them to remove squatters immediately. Governor Ron DeSantis said this law aims to stop squatters from scamming people in Florida.
Hobbs had squatted in many homes before and was considered dangerous. He previously squatted in New York but was only sued, not arrested. In Florida, he took over an 85-year-old woman’s condo, changed the locks, and pretended to be the new owner. The real owners still had to pay property charges and taxes.
Prosecutor James said Hobbs’ conviction sends a message that fraudsters will be arrested, tried, and imprisoned. Real estate broker Ben Caballero told Newsweek that Florida’s new law helps homeowners defend their property rights. Other states are starting to follow Florida’s example.
In New York, squatters could gain tenant rights after 30 days, making it hard for owners to evict them. However, New York recently changed its law to exclude squatters from being considered tenants, hoping to make their removal easier.