Jury Finds First of Four Men Charged in South Side Squatter Ring Guilty

CHICAGO, IL -- A Cook County jury convicted a man from an anti-government group who illegally occupied and rented foreclosed properties in Chicago -area communities, including the Beverly and Morgan Park neighbors.

David Farr, aka as Fahim Ali, was found guilty on all felony counts of theft, financial institution frady and continuing a financial crimes enterprise. Farr was handed a guilty verdict after a jury deliberated less than 40 minutes. Farr acted as his own attorney during the six-day trial at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

The 46-year-old Farr belonged to the Sovereign Moor movement, whose members reject government and police authority. Farr was arrested in 2015, along with three other men, who were part of a squatter ring that unlawfully claimed foreclosed and abandoned properties, prosecutors said.

Farr was arrested in an early morning raid in the Beverly neighborhood last year, along with an alleged business associate, 57-year-old Torrez Moore , after a year-long investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s financial crimes unit and other law enforcement agencies.

Two more alleged accomplices -- 53-year-old Raymond Trimble, of Markham, and his son, Arshad Thomas, 27 -- were later arrested and charged in the complex financial scheme. All four men were said to be associates, but they kept their illegal business activities separate.

On multiple occasions, prosecutors said Farr changed the locks on unoccupied houses and either moved into the residence or rented the homes to tenants while collecting rent as “landlords.” Farr is also alleged to have filed fraudulent documents with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds claiming he owned the properties.

Investigators said the financial institutions had a hard time reclaiming and selling the properties, which they lawfully owned, because the properties were occupied by “squatters.” Most of the renters or squatters were aware they were unlawfully living at the homes. Prosecutors said they refused to leave, even when ordered by police, in cahoots with Farr and his associates.

In many cases, the homes were in disrepair. Realtors were afraid to access the properties, which had “no trespassing” signs posted on the outside at the direction of Farr and the other alleged schemers.

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) said that Farr, who faces between six and 30 years in prison, represented himself during his trial.

“What David Farr and his criminal enterprise did to our community was a travesty,” the alderman said. “So many people were in fear and were afraid to come forward, but worked quietly with law enforcement. The Chicago Police Department financial crimes unit did a painstaking investigation. They did a remarkable job.”

Farr’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.