Alachua County detectives have filed additional charges against 45-year-old Edward Chappel in an ongoing fraud investigation.
Chappel was originally arrested on August 18, 2025, for allegedly using a falsified contract to unlawfully enter a home, resulting in charges of Burglary and Criminal Mischief.
A follow-up investigation uncovered further illegal activity. Deputies executed a search warrant on a U-Haul truck and Chappel’s cellphone, recovering rental contracts, FedEx receipts, multiple falsified property contracts, bank statements, realtor business cards, blank contract templates, and burglary tools. Digital evidence also indicated Chappel’s involvement in producing false documents and misrepresenting property ownership.
Several individuals interviewed confirmed interactions with Chappel over a two-week period. The home involved in the initial incident had a 2024 appraised value of over $555,000.
Chappel now faces additional felony charges, including Forgery, Uttering a Forged Instrument, Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Use of Personally Identifiable Information (over $50,000), and Scheme to Defraud (over $50,000).
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office credited the investigation to the collaborative efforts of its detectives in uncovering the scope of this fraud scheme and protecting the community.
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