MAN ARRESTED IN HOUSING SCHEME

A SARASOTA MAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF HAVING A BUSINESS USING HOMES IN FORECLOSURE THAT HE DID NOT OWN.  SARASOTA COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY 60 YEAR OLD JOEL McNAIR WAS RUNNING A BUSINESS CALLED HOMES FOR AMERICANS THAT REPORTEDLY FINDS HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE AND LEASES THEM TO UNSUSPECTING VICTIMS.  THESE VICTIMS PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE TO McNAIR’S COMPANY AND TO McNAIR HIMSELF TO LEASE PROPERTY THAT HE DOES NOT OWN.  McNAIR CLAIMS HE IS FOLLOWING A CENTURIES-OLD FLORIDA STATUTE CALLED ADVERSE POSSESSION, A CONCEPT THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO LAY CLAIM TO ABANDONED LAND IF THEY CARED FOR THE PROPERTY AND PAID THE TAXES.  SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S CAPTAIN JEFF BELL SAID THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS PEOPLE TRY TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM AND THIS LEGAL DOCTRINE HAS CLEARLY BEEN MISUSED IN THIS CASE.  BELL SAID McNAIR HAD NO RIGHT TO THESE HOMES, NO RIGHT TO CHANGE THE LOCKS, AND NO RIGHT TO LEASE THEM TO ANYONE.  McNAIR HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SCHEME TO DEFRAUD AND GRAND THEFT, AND DEPUTIES SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING IN SARASOTA AND THE TAMPA BAY AREA.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AT 861-4900.