Chicago squatting: Lashawn Rankine, accused of squatting in Evergreen Park, pleads guilty to residential burglary, records show
CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago man accused of squatting in homes in the south suburbs has pleaded guilty to residential burglary.
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Chicago police said they caught Lashawn Rankine moving into a home in Evergreen Park that was on the market to be sold.
Officials also said Rankine knowingly made a fraudulent lease agreement for that same Evergreen Park property with the intent to defraud the property owner, and he was arrested and charged.
The I-Team has been covering squatting cases for years, and Rankine is a name that has come up in three alleged squatting cases.
READ MORE | Man connected to alleged south suburban squatting charged with burglary, forgery in Evergreen Park
Rankin pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation last week.
He was ordered to pay restitution of $624. He must get permission to leave Illinois and cannot possess a firearm.
The victim in this case told ABC7 he was not happy with the outcome. He said in part “he only gets a slap on the wrist.”
Sam is on your side. If you have something you want Samantha Chatman and the ABC7 Consumer I-Team to look into, call her at 312-750-7TIP.
I-TEAM | Squatting in Illinois: A Statewide Fight
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