A DEVELOPER was on track to construct affordable housing earlier this year when he unexpectedly discovered he didn’t actually own the land he was building on.

Christopher Guillory, of Kingdom Builders Developments, purchased a plot of land in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for $15,000 in December of last year.

A building developer was forced to stop construction on a home after learning he didn’t own the landCredit: WBRZ

Court records reportedly show the true owners of the property had their identity stolen in a land sale schemeCredit: WBRZ

The lot had been empty since 2006 and is reportedly owned by a brother and sisterCredit: WBRZ

Guillory explained to local ABC affiliate WBRZ that he had been working with a real estate agent at the time.

He told the outlet that they had made several offers on different lots and finally heard back from one on North Sabine Drive.

On paper, everything appeared to be in order and Guillory’s name was reportedly listed on the sale paperwork.

He paid for the lot in cash, according to WBRZ.

However, a problem came just two months later.

“I used all the appropriate channels to make sure we purchased the property legally and obviously that didn’t protect us from this particular situation,” the developer said.

Guillory and his team began to build the home in February and had interested buyers lined up to purchase it.

As construction began, the real owner of the property appeared on site.

Sam Glasper Pleasant told WBRZ that the plot of land has been in her family since the 1980s.

She revealed that she grew up in the home right behind the lot, which was given to her and her brother in 2006 by their father.

She claimed the lot had been empty until she saw the construction site.

“Shock and amazement,” Pleasant told the outlet.

Now, records reviewed by WBRZ appear to indicate that Glasper Pleasant and Guillory were both victims of a land sale scam created by criminals who obtained Glasper Pleasant and her brother’s identities.

Court documents reviewed by the outlet allegedly show that the individuals handling the sale of the plot of land used the Social Security numbers for Glasper Pleasant and her brother as well as their names.

However, the names were misspelled and the individuals posed as spouses, instead of siblings.

Power of attorney documents also reportedly feature an invalid notary seal from Florida.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my family would be victims at this scale,” Glasper Pleasant said.

“If anyone involved had done their due diligence they could have followed all of the title and deed records showing how my parents became possessors of the property and then showing it was lawfully donated to my brother and me,” she added.

Guillory has since halted construction on the property, despite already investing $80,000.

He relied on his agents and the title company and the professionals that he hired and here we are.

Sharon KyleAttorney

In an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun, he described the situation as “a nightmare to say the least.”

“We did everything that we were supposed to do in making sure that we legally acquired the property,” Guillory said.

Guillory told The U.S. Sun he’s being sued by the property owners who are trying to put a restraining order on the builders from going back to the property.

However, the judge sided with the builders, according to Guillory.

The accidental buyer said he has no intention of building on the property until all of the issues are resolved.

But now he’s having to fight the actual owners’ lawsuit which alleges Guillory damaged their property.

“A lot of people dropped the ball,” he said.

Speaking to the local station, Guillory said the scam not only affects him but the men he hired.

“Those guys, they don’t have income now,” Guillory said.

His attorney, Sharon Kyle, told WBRZ that her client is working to find a resolution.

“He relied on his agents and the title company and the professionals that he hired and here we are,” Kyle said.

The title agency involved in the sale, Phoenix Title, has since reported the incident to the FBI.

The agency told WBRZ that the scam is part of a recent uptick in real estate fraud.

“Fortunately for Phoenix Title, they were able to catch the fraud and seize the moment to attempt to repair the situation but also alert others in the industry of the purported fraudulent seller and their actions of deceiving all parties involved, including them,” the company said.

Luckily for Guillory, he does have title insurance however it won’t cover all of the costs.

Still, he remains positive.

“I’m not going to be angry about it,” he told WBRZ.

Kingdom Builders Developments and Kyle did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.