Man arrested, woman sought after detectives foil plan to steal Miami-Dade real estate property

Miami-Dade detectives arrested Tom Jenkins III on Monday in North Miami. (MDCR and Google Street View)

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. ā€“ A man and a woman recently used fake identifications and a fraudulent power of attorney as part of their effort to steal a real estate property in Miami-Dade County from a woman who is the bed-ridden resident of a nursing home, according to detectives.

The fraudsters who pretended to be the victim and her son listed the real estate property for $500,000 and sold it for about $462,000, but their plot fell apart just as they were about to get the cash Monday in North Miami, according to detectives.

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Tom Jenkins III didnā€™t know that undercover detectives were waiting for him at about 11:30 a.m. at Marina Title LLC, at 12955 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 300. Jenkins handed one of them a fake identification to retrieve a check, according to the arrest report.

The detectives quickly arrested Jenkins, 43, of Oakland Park. They are still searching for the woman who forged the victimā€™s signature 17 times in front of a notary who took a copy of the fake identification she provided, according to the police report.

Jenkins is facing charges of organized fraud, grand theft, fraudulent use of identification, fraudulent possession of identification, and exploitation of an elderly and disabled adult.

Detectives were asking anyone with information about the case to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.


About the Author

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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