Felton Woman Arrested after Scamming People into Renting Foreclosed Homes

Magnolia, DE – State Police Detectives have arrested a 45-year-old Felton woman after it was determined she had posed as a realtor on Craigslist in order to rent homes to unsuspecting tenants.

The investigation began on October 24, 2014 when a male victim contacted state troopers to report someone living in his home located on Mayapple Lane in Magnolia that was under foreclosure. The victim, who had been out of the house since August, was informed by relatives that someone was living there. Upon contacting the current inhabitants, troopers were informed the house was put up on Craigslist as a rental and they had been shown the house back in September by a female realtor. Soon afterwards, the couple signed rental paperwork and completed monetary transactions with the female and then moved into the home.

Detectives with the Financial Crimes Unit assumed the investigation shortly thereafter and learned this was not the first time this particular crime had occurred in the area. On a previous occasion back in September 2014, a female occupant of a residence located on Quails Nest Drive in Dover was shown the residence on Quails Nest Drive as well as another house near Sorghum Mill Road by a female who represented herself as a realtor. Once again, the female produced paperwork depicting a rental agreement and received $3,500.00 for the first month's rent as well as a security deposit which allowed the unsuspecting female victim to move into the Quails Nest dwelling. Within a week of the woman moving into the home, the actual homeowners of the residence were preparing to move back into the house after settling a previous foreclosure with the bank and contacted troopers about the female trespassing on the property.

An incident in Sussex County was also reported back in early October which occurred at a residence on Boblin Court in Millsboro involving the same situation. In this case, a real estate company that owns the house noticed the locks on the doors had been changed and notified state police of a female living there. She too had fallen prey to this female posing as a realtor where she signed documents and paid cash to move in.

Two other foreclosed locations in Kent County had also fallen victim to this scam.

Kellie Hodge-Grier, 45 of Felton was developed as a suspect through interviews with the victims and photo line-ups. She was arrested Monday December 1, 2014 after she turned herself into detectives at Troop 3 and charged with five counts of Burglary 2nd, one count of Attempted Burglary 2nd, six counts of Possession of Burglar Tools, three counts of Theft over $1500, one count of Attempted Theft over $1500, eight counts of Forgery 2nd, six counts of Theft under $1500, six counts of Criminal Impersonation. She was arraigned at JP2 and released on $36,000.00 unsecured bond.

If anyone may have fallen victim to this scam or the female suspect, they are asked to contact Det. A. Stetzer at 302-741-2808 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."