DETROIT – Pastor Kenneth Hogan says he was relieved to learn that Wayne County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Bernard Hardrick on 28 counts of fraud. Police say Hardrick and a female accomplice went around Detroit with fake deeds, selling homes they didn't own.
"They were taking good people's money and they think they have a house and they don't have anything," Hogan said.
Last month, Local 4 interviewed Hogan after he contacted us about a home owned by his non-profit organization called Manna Development. The organization buys houses and fixes them up for low income families.
The home, located in the 13000 block of Appleton Street on Detroit's west side, had been listed for sale on Craig's List by someone named Bernard.
Hogan had no idea who that was, and the person went so far as to break inside and take pictures for the fraudulent listing.
Fortunately, Hogan realized it was a scam before anyone lost any money. But that wasn't the case with other homes around metro Detroit, including one in the 18000 block of Glastonbury Avenue.
Deputies say an unsuspecting buyer made a down payment of $3,000 cash for a house that wasn't for sale and wasn't owned by Hardrick or his accomplice. Officers say they're seeing more of this type of scam, and buyers need to be diligent in knowing who the owners are.
As for Hogan, he says getting the word out is important.
"I'm just hoping this will deter anyone else that would give their money to someone like this and also would deter some of the people that are doing it," Hogan said. "They will know there's going to be a consequence to it."