Tuesday, Feb. 17, Ian Chen ’28 took seat in the Maryland House of Delegates to testify before lawmakers following a multi-count case he filed against Tamieka Goode, who was accused of squatting in a neighboring $2.3 million mansion in Bethesda, Md.
Goode posed as a financial advisor while secretly relying on food stamps and income earned by her 16-year-old daughter, who was working instead of attending school. She was ultimately convicted of breaking and entering and trespassing and sentenced to 90 days at the Montgomery County Detention Center.
Chen spent several months documenting Goode’s activities and compiling evidence for his case. After her initial arrest, he alerted police when she was seen attempting to remove belongings from the home.
The case prompted Chen to pursue broader legislative change. He urged lawmakers to strengthen penalties related to fraudulent occupancy, advocating for the falsification of documents used for illegitimate property claims to be classified as a felony offense. Chen argued before the Maryland House that such cases represent a serious concern for the wider community and warrant stricter criminal consequences.
