News Release

February 10, 2009 Media Relations Office

For Immediate Release 916 808.0808 / F: 916 808.0829
Release No. 021009-20
Capt. Ken Bernard
Sgt. Norm Leong
Ofc. Laura Peck
Ofc. Konrad VonSchoech
PIC Audrey Lee

Power to Rent Found to be a Fraud

On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, Sacramento Police Detectives announced that we had
obtained arrest warrants for 52-year-old Phillis Powers, 54 year-year-old Sandra Barney, 57-
year-old Carver Barney, and 49- year-old Dennis Eugene for criminal trespass.

On February 10, 2009, Detectives attempted to arrest the suspects at 3700 Clubside Lane. No
one was at home at the time. The realtor for Aurora Loan Services was given back control of
the property.

On February 2, 2009, the police department received a call of two subjects living in a vacant
foreclosed home at 3700 Clubside Lane in the City of Sacramento. It was determined that two
residents, Sandra Barney and Carver Barney, were in fact living in the home and had rented it
from Phillis Powers. Detectives also found that a Dennis Eugene, who was in the house when
officers responded, had been hired by a group called Midian to clean up the home but that
Eugene was related to the Barney’s.

Detectives determined the real property owner was Aurora Loan Services out of Colorado.
Aurora Loan Services bought the property on January 29, 2009. They confirmed with
detectives that no one had permission to be in the home and that they had not given anyone
permission to rent the property.

It is believed that Phillis Powers, Carver Barney, and Sandra Barney, and Dennis Eugene
conspired to unlawfully enter 3700 Clubside Lane and thus committing the criminal trespass.
Any other intended criminal acts, beyond the criminal trespass, were not completed or could
not be proven at this time. “This crime may have gone un-noticed if it weren’t for the
community paying attention to what is going on in their neighborhood. This was not a case
where innocent victims got scammed into moving into a vacant property but a scam to steal
from the property owners” said Sergeant Norm Leong.
Sacramento Police Department – 5770 Freeport Boulevard, Suite 100 – Sacramento, California 95822
There are many varieties of reality scams but one type preys on occupying vacant homes with
the intent of getting the real owners to pay a lump some of money in order to get the homes
vacated without a lengthy eviction process. “The Sacramento Police Department will
investigate and arrest those individuals who think they can go into a home illegally in order to
defraud property owners” said Detective Mike Wood.

Phillis Powers Sandra Barney

Carver Barney Dennis Eugene

Sacramento Police Department – 5770 Freeport Boulevard, Suite 100 – Sacramento, California 95822