A complex real estate fraud scheme has come to light in Wisconsin, involving a network of individuals and companies accused of defrauding a property owner out of his commercial property. Patrick Fagan filed a complaint on December 16, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin against IJS Storage LLC and several other defendants.
The case revolves around allegations that the defendants conspired to defraud Fagan by using a sham limited liability company (LLC) to purchase his commercial property at an undervalued price. According to the complaint, Fagan was approached by Cage Home Investments LLC in July 2023 with an offer to buy his property located at 1915 53rd St., Kenosha, Wisconsin. Negotiations ensued with individuals Steve Bilik, A.J. Vermiglio, and Craig Patch representing themselves as agents of a legitimate entity capable of purchasing the property. However, on November 13, 2023, just before closing the deal, they switched the buyer from Cage Home Investments to IJS Storage LLC without proper registration in Wisconsin.
Fagan alleges that he was misled into selling his property for $115,000 when its market value was approximately $242,000. He further claims that IJS Storage LLC had no legal capacity to hold title in Wisconsin at the time of sale and only registered with the state’s Department of Financial Institutions months later. The use of an unregistered out-of-state LLC is described as part of a deliberate scheme to obscure true ownership and hinder due diligence.
The complaint also accuses defendants Bilik and Tim Pinter of exerting control over the property post-sale through various means including unauthorized electrical work and shifting utility costs onto Fagan. After discovering these fraudulent activities in 2025, Fagan initiated legal action but faced retaliatory eviction proceedings from the defendants who allegedly committed further fraud upon the court.
Fagan seeks multiple forms of relief from the court: voiding the fraudulent deed; rescinding sale agreements; compensatory damages not less than $227,000; treble damages under RICO statutes; punitive damages for malicious conduct; and injunctions preventing eviction or interference with his possession of the property.
Representing himself pro se in this matter is Patrick Fagan while J. Michael McTernan appears as counsel for some defendants during state court proceedings related to this case. The case is under Case ID: 2:25-cv-01974-NJ.
Source: 225cv01974_Fagan_v_IJS_Storage_LLC_Complaint_Eastern_District_Wisconsin.pdf
