Serial squatters investigated in rental scam

10 News has uncovered that a couple caught two weeks ago for a squatting scheme in Brandon is being investigated for a bigger rental scam in Tampa.

Tampa, Florida -- 10 News has uncovered that a couple caught two weeks ago for a squatting scheme in Brandon is being investigated for a bigger rental scam in Tampa.

10 News discovered a woman squatting in a bank-owned foreclosed home in Brandon. She claimed she had a lease with a man named Delonta Muhammad, but deputies determined the lease wasn't legit and kicked her out, along with Delonta and his wife Alicia.

On this YouTube video, Muhammad boasts he has a business, "Room Hustling 101: A Poor Man's Way to Get into Real Estate."

Tampa Police say the sketchy rental practice has landed the Muhammad's on investigators' radar.

Victims in Tampa tell 10 News that the Muhammads are renting out properties they don't own and taking money from residents.

Right now, code enforcement has an open complaint against them on Troy Street. A resident reports they're living without water and garbage is piling up outside.

Tampa police say while the complaints are mounting against the Muhammads, they haven't crossed the line criminally, just yet.

"We were literally just put out on the street with everything we had," says Eric Jones.

Jones filed a complaint with Tampa Police after he and other tenants were evicted from an Osborne Avenue home in May. Police records show Delonta Muhammad told police he's the property manager renting out the single-family home.

"Seven bedrooms, and there were a dozen of us in there. We even had people in the living room cordoned off with sheets," says Jones.

Jones insists it's all part of a scam.

"They will take everything you've got. They were charging me $475 for a single bedroom, and they were not paying the man who owns this house," says Jones.

"Because he was legitimately renting, subleasing, it wasn't criminal," says Andrea Davis with the Tampa Police Department.

Investigators couldn't charge Muhammad in May, but a detective is still closely watching his business practices.

"We're very familiar with him. We are very familiar with his video," says Davis.

Code enforcement says Muhammad has been affiliated with four houses in violation this year, including Jones' house, that's racked up $42,000 in fines.

We left a message for Muhammad and tried tracking him down at his associated addresses.

Jones and police warn renters to beware.

"Look at the Property Appraiser's website, and if he is not the owner of the home, you need to start asking questions. That's what he's doing, he's renting homes from people and then subleasing rooms. We're looking at other allegations to see if there's criminal activity," says Davis.

"Do not rent from them," Jones says.

Code enforcement and police tell 10 News that some of the Muhammads' victims are afraid to come forward, but investigators insist they'll look into all complaints as they compile a case against them.