Flagler County investigators say Melissa Jester transferred three vacant lots without the owner’s permission and sold one for nearly $30,000.
BUNNELL, Fla. — A 41-year-old Bunnell woman was arrested Friday, Nov. 6, after investigators accused her of using forged property deeds to take ownership of three vacant lots in Palm Coast and selling one for nearly $30,000.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Melissa Jester allegedly transferred the properties to Florida Ohana Homes LLC, a company she owned, without the rightful owner’s knowledge or permission.
The investigation began Aug. 27 when the property owner reported that three lots she had owned for approximately 20 years had been transferred to someone else.
Detectives Trace Property Sale and Money Transfers
Investigators said forged deed documents were submitted to the Flagler County Clerk of Courts in June 2026.
On Sept. 10, Jester allegedly sold one of the properties to an unsuspecting buyer for $29,970. Detectives said surveillance footage captured her signing the warranty deed at a Palm Coast UPS Store.
Authorities reported that Jester later transferred $8,000 from her business account into a personal credit union account. Investigators recovered more than $20,000 from the two accounts.
“Most of the deed fraud we see is run by scammers hiding in another state or another country. This one lived in Bunnell and signed the closing papers in front of a security camera in Palm Coast,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement.
Jester was arrested on charges of grand theft and obtaining property valued between $20,000 and $50,000 by swindle. Authorities reported a $45,000 bond.
The charges are allegations, and Jester is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Florida Property Owners Can Register for Free Fraud Alerts
The Flagler County Clerk of Court offers a free service that notifies subscribers when documents are recorded under their names in county property records.
While the program cannot prevent fraudulent filings, it can alert property owners to suspicious activity so they can respond quickly.
Property owners can register for the free service at records.flaglerclerk.gov/FraudAlert.
Source: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrest announcement and Flagler County Clerk of Court public information.
