Home / Crime and Justice / Fraud Scheme Evicts Local Business
Fraud Scheme Evicts Local Business
9 Jun
Summary
- Business owner was victim of an organized fraud scheme.
- Women arrested for filing bogus quit-claim deeds.
- Business was evicted after signing a fraudulent lease.
A local business owner, Avery McKnight, has spoken out after being the victim of an organized fraud scheme that resulted in his business being evicted. McKnight's establishment, Hair Architects, located at 849 A Philip Randolph Boulevard, was forced to close its doors in February 2026 after 15 years. The scheme involved fraudulent quit-claim deeds.
According to reports, Kacheryl Gantt filed a quitclaim deed for the building in 2023, which appeared to be signed by one of the property's owners and was notarized by Manuela Roberts. Gantt then approached McKnight in 2025, claiming ownership and collecting rent. McKnight and other tenants were later sued for eviction by Gantt.
After confirming with the property's actual heirs that they should not be paying Gantt, McKnight stopped rent payments to her, which led to his business being sued for eviction. Both Gantt and Roberts were arrested last week on fraud-related charges for allegedly filing multiple fraudulent deeds. Hair Architects has since moved back into their building through an attorney.
