Squatters moved into his property with a fake mortgage but the police couldn't remove them — so the owner moved in too and refused to leave
'They got tired of us being on the property'
Sometimes, to beat the system that is failing you, you need to stop at the level of the people exploiting it. That is exactly the choice Marco Velasquez faced when he and his realtor walked into his Southside Chicago property and found total strangers living inside. When the responding officers explained that Illinois property loopholes meant they couldn't force the couple, Velasquez had to get creative and find a solution to this. However, instead of using force or any other way, he did something unexpected by moving in with them, as ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) reported the entire story on 6 May 2025 in a video that now has over 2.1 million views.
A shocking discovery
The entire incident started when Velasquez and his agent entered the property ready for sale, and they found Charmaine Powell-Gillard and Codarro living inside the home. "I couldn't believe it," Velasquez said. Naturally, he called the police to tackle the situation. However, when the officers showed up at the spot, the couple showed them a set of mortgage papers claiming they had recently bought the house.
Fake documents, but hands tied
Well, unsurprisingly, a quick check with the Cook County records confirmed that no such mortgage existed, exposing the paperwork as entirely fraudulent. Despite that, responding officers delivered a blow to Velasquez, suggesting that they couldn't evict the couple immediately because of the law. They explained that this situation was treated as a civil property dispute rather than a straightforward crime, which it actually is. He was told that the entire legal procedure could take several months.
Moving in together
So, Velasquez decided to take matters into his own hands. Refusing to let his home be stolen, he called up a couple of close friends and started moving into the house with a handful of air mattresses. He, his wife, and his friends set up their camp right in the living room, keeping a 24-hour watch on the bedroom where the couple was staying to force an awkward, uncomfortable standoff. "I said I'm not moving out. I said at one point they had to leave. They got tired of us being on the property," he later told the outlet.
Cash for keys
Still, even though the couple was tired of Velasquez moving in with his friends and wife, they didn't leave without a payday. Initially, they demanded $8,000 for moving out, knowing that Velasquez couldn't force them out legally. They also knew that he'd be desperate to avoid a legal battle. But he didn't hand the cash then and there; he negotiated and handed them $4,300 despite not wanting to. Velasquez also made them sign a "cash for keys" agreement, packed their bags, and finally made them vacate the premises.
Later, once Velasquez settled the matter, the Chicago Police Department called him to give him an update. As it turns out, the couple who were living in his house were serial squatters. Shortly after leaving his property, Powell-Gillard was arrested at another house and was charged with burglary, forgery, and criminal trespassing. This happened after she tried to pull a similar stunt on another local couple, Marcia and Carlton Lee.
A rise in squatting
Over the last few years, the rise of squatters and squatting has been rampant. According to a survey held by Batinfo.com, even though 92% of homeowners know precisely what squatting means, a staggering 80% believe that it would never happen to them. However, the reality tells a different story, as about 15% of property owners have been previously affected by squatting.
Why is it protected?
People remained baffled about why squatting is legal in some places. @sash8492 questioned, "If breaking and entering is illegal, WHY is breaking, entering, and STAYING protected???" At the same time, @Luv2gd2btru argued, "If the city or county government has no record of them as having purchased the home, then they should have to move out and charges brought against them. The laws need to change in favor of the homeowner."
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