They weren't porch pirates: Theft ring members stole whole houses, authorities say

Three suspects have been charged in what investigators say was an elaborate scheme to steal Broward County, Florida properties with fraudulent quit claim deeds, liens and litigation.

The three arrested suspects — Tyrone Jones, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, Michael Dupree, 51, of Riverview, and Yury Domatov, 50, of Dania Beach — are accused in the thefts or attempted thefts of 14 homes, authorities said. Up to eight additional suspects are under investigation and more arrests are expected.

The value of the 14 homes totals $12.8 million, according to Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar, who oversees a new property crimes investigative unit that broke the case.

“They tried to steal 14 properties. We blocked them from getting 11, but they stole three. Two of the suspects lived in two of the homes,” Kiar said in an interview on Tuesday.

Jones was arrested on Oct. 11 at one of the properties the ring is accused of stealing — a house at 1621 Seabreeze Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale valued by the property appraiser’s office at $1.08 million. The Sun Sentinel has reached out to the Broward County Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Jones, to request comment.

Domatov was arrested Tuesday morning at another of the allegedly stolen properties, 4926 SW 44th Terrace, in Dania Beach.

Dupree was arrested at his home in Riverview, a community in Hillsborough County, on March 7 and will be moved to Broward County to face charges, Kiar said.

All three were in custody on Wednesday, jail records show.

Homes that the ring is accused of stealing are located throughout Broward County, including Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, West Park and Weston.

Kiar said that Jones and Domatov would find properties that were either bank-owned or owned by elderly or disabled residents and file lawsuits in Broward County Circuit Court seeking to have them transferred to Jones, one of his companies, or an accomplice. The court documents would attest that the properties were dilapidated or abandoned.

...continued

swipe to next page