FL Man Heads To Federal Prison In Quit Claim Deed Scam

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — A Wesley Chapel man was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for his role in a quit claim deed scam, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

John Alberto Stolard, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving quit claim deeds on Oct. 3.

In addition to sentencing him to prison time, U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven ordered Stolard to forfeit more than $747,000, which is traceable to his crime, the DOJ said.

He got fraudulent quit claim deeds in connection with five different properties, which were all owned by a person he had worked with and knew personally.

Stolard and a co-conspirator forged the victim’s name on the quit claim deeds to file them with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, records show.

Using the fraudulent deeds, he applied online for mortgage loans, using the victim’s properties as collateral, and ultimately obtained $827,000 in mortgage loans.

“Through our investigation, we uncovered how selfish greed nearly caused devastating financial losses for an innocent victim,” Robert Engel, special agent in charge for the U.S. Secret Service in the Tampa field office, said. “Mr. Stolard epitomized the betrayal of trust, abusing his position to steal over $800,000 in property while fraudulently posing as the rightful owner.”