MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Marion County man has been convicted after a jury found he filed a fraudulent lien targeting multiple public officials, falsely claiming they owed millions of dollars.
Last week, jurors found 58-year-old Manes Pierre guilty of fraudulent simulation of a legal process and making a false statement to the Florida Department of State. Following the verdict, Pierre was taken into custody without bond and is awaiting sentencing.
The case dates back to August 2021, when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a suspicious lien filing. The document listed several public officials as judgment debtors, including Marion County Sheriff William Woods, Clerk of Court and Comptroller Gregory C. Harrell, a circuit court judge, and an assistant state attorney.
Investigators quickly determined that none of the individuals had any knowledge of the lien, and a records search confirmed the filing was fraudulent.
According to the investigation, the lien falsely claimed the officials owed $16 million. The document listed a fictitious court identified as the “Morocco Consular Court,” along with fabricated names, including “Elio Bohechio Trogon El” as a judicial officer and Manes Pierre as the judgment creditor.
Authorities also discovered the lien had been filed electronically using a Miami Beach address and a Gmail account. Those details matched prior filings linked to Pierre.
Detective Kip Peterson of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Florida Department of State’s General Counsel’s Office to obtain filing records and transaction details. Investigators found that the billing information used to pay the filing fee was registered to Pierre and matched the same email and address associated with the fraudulent submission.
“Filing false liens is not only illegal, but it’s harmful, and it’s a form of harassment that can significantly harm a person’s reputation and lead to substantial damages,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson. “This type of crime will not be tolerated in our jurisdiction, and I am grateful the jurors convicted this defendant for his crimes.”
Officials said the case highlights the seriousness of fraudulent legal filings and the impact they can have on victims, particularly when public officials are targeted.
The State Attorney’s Office credited Detective Kip Peterson, the Florida Department of State, and Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Steiniger and Robert Bullara for their roles in the investigation and prosecution.
Pierre remains in custody as he awaits sentencing.