Laura Santos, 45, and Daniel Sablich, 38, were arrested in Nokomis after being accused of squatting in a home and attempting to rent it out fraudulently. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office investigated the situation after a neighbor raised suspicions about the pair cleaning and preparing an empty house for rent.
Neighbors noticed Santos and Sablich cleaning up the property on Nash Avenue, and their actions seemed to align with the ongoing post-hurricane cleanup efforts in the neighborhood. They had a pickup truck, water tank, and pressure washer, which made their activity appear legitimate. However, a neighbor who knew the previous homeowner grew suspicious and alerted law enforcement.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the pair had falsely claimed they had permission to be on the property. Santos even told a neighbor they were close to the family who owned the house and had been hired to clean it. Additionally, Santos asked for money to pressure wash the home, but another neighbor found an online listing for the property being offered for rent at $900 a month.
Further investigation revealed that the actual homeowner, who lives in Jacksonville, had no knowledge of Santos and Sablich. Sheriff Kurt Hoffman explained that such scams can go beyond the initial fraud and attempt to secure long-term control of properties.
Thanks to recent changes in House Bill 621, the eviction process has become more efficient, allowing authorities to arrest squatters more swiftly. Santos faces multiple charges, including fraud, burglary, marijuana possession, and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. She remains in jail, while Sablich has been released on bail for the burglary charge.
Neighbors and law enforcement are praising the diligent actions that led to the quick resolution of the case, with Sheriff Hoffman noting that property fraud cases are becoming more common.
