Squatter Handed 14-Year Prison Sentence

CHICAGO, IL -- The ringleader of a squatter ring was handed a 14-year prison sentence after a jury convicted him of financial crimes, fraud and theft in September 2016. David Farr, aka Fahim Ali, was charged along with three other men of illegally taking possession of foreclosed and vacant homes in Beverly and Morgan Park. In some instances, the men would live in the properties or rent them out to tenants.

Farr, 47, was arrested in 2015 with a business associate Torrez Moore after a year-long investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit and other agencies. Father-and-son combo, 54-year-old Raymond Trimble, of Markham, and his son, Arshad Thomas, 28, were also part of the illegal enterprise. Both pleaded guilty to assorted felony counts and are serving sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

During his six-day trial, Farr acted as his own attorney. It took a Cook County jury less than 40 minutes to deliberate a guilty verdict. Alleged associate Moore is awaiting sentencing.