The Fort Myers Police Department arrested 27-year-old Gregory Matthews Jr. on Monday after being accused of trying to steal property rights to a woman's home that was listed on the Clerk of the Courts Property Fraud Alert.
Gulf Coast News learned that the victim was former city Councilwoman Christine Matthews, who resigned from her position in 2014.
Investigators say that Christine tried to transfer ownership to her home to her brother, Gregory Matthews Sr., last year in April but was waiting on a physical copy of her license. However, Matthews Sr. died before the paperwork was finished.
Reports say that Matthews Jr. finalized the deal for himself using his dad's information and a fake driver's license. Christine did a random check on her properties and learned that the home wasn't in her name anymore. That's when she contacted police.
"It probably happens a lot more often than we know because a lot of times typically, the properties that are usually targeted for this type of crime, it's usually vacant land to where the individuals won't even know about it," said Det. David Dietz with the Fort Myers Police Department.
Fort Myers Police Department says that Matthews Jr. may have made a fake ID using a photograph from her Facebook, Christine confirmed that no one ever recieved a copy of her Florida driver's license.
"Along with the fraudulent warranty, was able to come to the clerk's office and file the deed," Dietz said.
Christine registered for the Lee Clerk's Property Fraud Alert System. Kevin Karnes, the Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller, says his top priority is to help prevent these cases.
"We are the very first in the state, and I think the very first in the nation, that's requiring government-issued IDs to accompany the deed, that's just to help law enforcement investigate these crimes a little bit more thoroughly," Karnes told Gulf Coast News.
Police recognized Gregory Matthews Jr. in Downtown Fort Myers just after midnight on Monday, when they arrested him.
"It's not to say that you can't trust anybody, but it's to make sure that you do the right things to protect the things that you own," Karnes said.
The Lee clerk offers property owners a free service to alert them of potential property fraud. Property Fraud Alert emails notifications within 24 hours to subscribers when a deed, mortgage or other land record with their registered name or parcel on it has been recorded in the county's Official Records.
If your property is located outside of Lee County, visit the statewide registration page to sign up for Property Fraud Alerts in your county.
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