TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman accused of stealing several houses in Hillsborough County by filing fake deeds pleaded guilty to the charges against her in court Monday.

Michelle Cherry took a plea deal after she was accused of filing fake deeds to gain control of homes and faced multiple fraud charges. She will have to testify truthfully against her husband, Victor Rodriguez, who also has charges in Dade County.

Larry and Dreama Bilby said their home was stolen by Cherry and Rodriguez in February.

“It isn’t worth it to own a home if it’s this easy for someone to steal it,” Dreama said. “I’m in an apartment right now because I’m scared to death to go into my home. I don’t ever want to own a home again.”

After 40 years of building their lives, raising children, even burying dogs in the backyard, it was all taken from them. Larry said the accused also removed their names from the electric and water bills.

“I mean it’s just unbelievable the audacity they had at every turn,” Larry said. “And that’s what kind of frightened us quite frankly because as a victim in this particular case we have to prove that you didn’t do this.”

The Hillsborough County Clerk’s Office shared video of Cherry and Rodriguez filing a forged deed in the official records office last February.

“They came here to Hillsborough County in early January and went around looking for different properties that were either vacant or appeared to be vacant,” said Michael Lennon, the prosecutor.

Cherry will be sentenced to anywhere from 10 to 285 years in prison, depending on her level of cooperation with the case.

The Bilby’s said they feel Cherry and Rodriguez have found every way possible to continue this trial.

“I do not feel relief, actually, I cried all morning,” Dreama said.

“That’s just another ploy for them. They keep using ploys to extend, that’s been their MO for a long time,” Larry added.

Three cases of stolen homes were mentioned in court. The home titles are back with their true homeowners, but it’s been hard for the Bilby’s to move on from this.

“Well, you’re displaced emotionally, especially when every time you get a piece of mail that has her (Cherry’s) name on it and your home address,” Dreama said.

The court is working to fix where Cherry’s mail is being delivered, while the Bilby’s wait for them to go to prison.

Rodriguez is set to go to trial on March 10.

The Clerk’s Office said Hillsborough County is one of the many hotspots for property fraud.

Homeowners can sign up for property fraud alerts through the Hillsborough County Clerk’s office. They will notify a homeowner within 48 hours if a document is recorded using their name or business name. It’s a free service.

To date, the Clerk’s Office has over 70,000 property fraud alert program subscriptions.