Latest news with #ShermainePowellGillard
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago couple locked out of their home for a month after a strange woman moved in with her family and pet dog
Marcia and Carlton Lee's month‑long property nightmare on Chicago's South Side is finally over. The couple have reclaimed their vacant house — one they're trying to sell — after police arrested and removed a stranger who moved in with her family, with paperwork to suggest she owned it. "I knew the ID was fake," Marcia told ABC 7 Chicago. 'I knew the documentation was fake. I'm just super excited that they finally got her out." Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The woman in question — Shermaine Powell‑Gillard — now faces a stack of felony and misdemeanor charges. The Lees have to clean up a mess of trash and some minor damage in the home before they put it back on the market, but they're just grateful to have it back. "It brings peace to my household," Carlton said. "That's what I need." The Lees' trouble began in early April, when they arrived at the vacant property to show it to a realtor and prospective buyer and discovered a woman who introduced herself as 'Stacy' living inside. She presented mortgage documents and photo ID that, at first glance, appeared legitimate. Officers called to the scene treated the confrontation as a civil dispute and said they lacked the authority to remove her. Illinois law requires property owners to evict squatters under the Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, a process that can drag on for months. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Frustrated by the situation, the Lees approached ABC7 for help. Marcia noted that on the supposed mortgage documents the woman presented, the property PIN matched a different home. Following media coverage, police revisited the evidence and concluded the ID and mortgage file were indeed fakes. Officers escorted Powell‑Gillard out of the home and charged her with forgery, burglary, obstructing identification, and criminal trespass. She has since been released and is awaiting her trial. The Lees have boarded up every window and door of their vacant home to make sure they don't have to deal with a repeat of the situation. Meanwhile, Illinois state representative La Shawn Ford is looking to change the existing eviction legislation so owners don't have to go through the Forceable Entry Act and go to court to evict squatters. Under his proposed law, police could remove a squatter as soon as the legitimate homeowner can prove they own the home. The Illinois Senate has passed the bill but it awaits a House vote. Reports of squatting are on the rise across the United States, though it remains relatively rare. Experts say that a tight housing market, slow civil courts, and social-media how-to guides have emboldened squatters. Until legislation catches up, here are a few practical safeguards to protect your own vacant property: Install cameras in secure, difficult-to-reach places. If a squatter claims a legal right to the home, footage can prove they broke in and move the case from civil to criminal court. Talk to your neighbors and let them know the home is vacant. Ask them to call or text you if they see anyone at the house so you can take action quickly. If you're using a lock box for realtor access, make sure it has a hard-to-guess code. For example, don't use 1234 or the street number. Consider installing a keypad lock, which can have longer codes, or leaving the key with a property manager instead. While signs can help sell or rent your home, they also let squatters know a house is empty. If you're worried about squatters, consider sticking to online listings. And if squatters do move in? Get the police involved and turn over as much information as possible. Don't take matters into your own hands — you could wind up with legal trouble of your own. Hopefully, legal reforms will give homeowners across the U.S. more power to remove squatters. Until then, preventive measures remain your first and best line of defense. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
This Chicago man did something wild when alleged squatters wouldn't leave his home — he moved in with them
When Marco Velazquez, a Chicago homeowner, discovered squatters living in his South Side property, he didn't leave. Instead, he stayed the night. 'I couldn't believe it,' Velazquez told ABC 7 News, after finding the home he was preparing to sell was already occupied. 'It was like a nightmare.' Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The intruders, a woman named Shermaine Powell-Gillard and her boyfriend, Codarro, claimed they had purchased the property and even produced a mortgage document for police. But when Velazquez checked with Cook County officials, no such mortgage was on record. To his shock, the police couldn't help. 'The worst thing happened when police told me they couldn't do anything. It needs to go to a civil court,' he said, indicating that Illinois law prevented officers from removing the pair without a court order, despite Velazquez holding the deed. Determined not to let go of his home, Velazquez made an unusual choice. 'I said, 'I'm not going to leave.' Called a couple friends, stayed overnight and I knew they were not going to like that,' he told ABC 7's I Team. He, his wife and some friends camped out in the living room while the alleged squatters took one of the bedrooms. 'We stayed a whole night with them … watching the door,' Velazquez recalled. The next morning, Velazquez was given an ultimatum. 'They were like, we want $8,000 of what we paid, so we can leave your property,' he said. Though reluctant, Velazquez eventually negotiated a cash-for-key deal. He paid the couple $4,300 in exchange for their leaving and signing a release, as he feared what might happen otherwise. 'We didn't want to give them money, but we heard really bad stories about squatters taking over properties for six, eight, 10 months, even a year,' he said. Weeks later, a police detective told Velazquez that Powell-Gillard had also allegedly squatted in another home owned by Marcia and Carlton Lee. In that case, Powell-Gillard was arrested and charged with burglary, forgery, obstructing identification and criminal residential trespassing. Powell-Gillard has denied all accusations, stating that claims she is a squatter are 'false and unfounded,' and emphasized that she is 'innocent until proven guilty,' says ABC 7. The Chicago Police Department has not confirmed if they're investigating Velazquez's case. No one has been arrested or charged. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis Velazquez's case underscores a broader legal issue: why property disputes involving squatters often fall under civil — not criminal — law. In Illinois and many other states, once someone establishes 'possession' of a home, even wrongfully, it can be difficult to distinguish them from a legal tenant. That means a legal eviction process must occur before law enforcement can step in. Under the current Illinois law, police often need clear evidence of criminal behavior, like a break-in or vandalism, to act. Like in Velazquez's case, if the squatter presents a lease, mortgage, utility bills or other documents — whether forged or not — police typically don't have the authority to assess authenticity on the spot. Instead, the dispute moves to civil court, where a judge can determine rightful ownership. But this may not be the case for much longer. ABC 7 reports that Senate Bill 1563 is working toward allowing police to remove squatters and skip the eviction process. The bill still has to be passed by the full Illinois House and would then be sent to the governor's desk for final approval. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Fed-up Chicago resident gives entitled squatters who refused to leave his house a dose of their own medicine
A Chicago homeowner grew so fed up with a group of alleged squatters who refused to leave his property that he decided to move in with them. Marco Velazquez, who owns the property in the South Side of the Windy City, had been preparing to sell the home when his estate agent discovered a couple inside it. Shermaine Powell-Gillard and her boyfriend Codarro claimed that they had purchased the home, according to ABC7. Velazquez told the outlet that the couple showed police officers who were called to the address documents claiming they had a mortgage for the address. A search of county records indicated however that no mortgage record actually existed. Officers on the scene told Velazquez there was nothing they could do for him, due to state laws, and that he would need to take them to civil court. He then decided to move in. His wife and his friends joined him for the overnight, he added: ''We stayed in the living room, we were watching the door at all times. '[The couple] stayed in one of the bedrooms. At one point they've got to leave, they've got to get tired of us being in the property.' The next morning the couple told Velazquez that they would accept $8,000 in exchange for them vacating the address. He had them sign an agreement and managed to negotiate them down, paying them $4,300 to leave the abode. Under Illinois state law, officers are not allowed to remove anyone from a home. Newsweek reported that a loophole exists that gives squatters 'legal standing' to possess real estate owned by property owners. Velazquez added: 'We didn't want to give them money, but we heard really bad stories about squatters taking over properties for six, eight, 10 months, even a year.' A few weeks after the standoff, Valezquez told the outlet that an officer informed him that Powell-Gillard is accused of squatting at another property. In that incident, she was arrested and charged with burglary, forgery, obstructing identification and criminal residential trespassing. He added: 'I heard stories before about squatters. I never thought it would happen to me.' Powell-Gillard told ABC7 that she is not a squatter and rejected any idea of such a title, saying they were 'false and unfounded'. No charges have been filed in the case of Velazquez. Lawmakers in Chicago are attempting to make changes to laws around property rights, Newsweek reported. Officials are considering revisions to how law enforcement can approach such incidents. A proposed 'Squatter Bill' sponsored by State Representative La Shawn Ford was passed in the state Senate and is awaiting further action. He told the outlet: 'I am distraught by the situation that Marco Velazquez has faced. 'This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges that many property owners encounter across Illinois.'
