[PHOTO CREDIT: iStock / Sergey Nazarov]
[Original Publish Date: 10/25/19]
(Have news tips for LLN?… 352Tips@gmail.com.)
EUSTIS, Florida – A 32-year-old Eustis man already in jail on fraud and grand theft charges was hit with more charges after a victim of his rental scam called Eustis Police.
The victim told police she responded to a Facebook Marketplace ad at the end of September, advertising an apartment at 104 S. Grove. St., and met with Bryan David Byars who told her he was the landlord’s nephew and property manager. Byars told her the rent would $600 per month, which included electricity, according to the arrest affidavit. Byars told her the kitchen was being remodeled and to pay a deposit to another woman who lived in the building. The victim paid that woman a $300 cash deposit, the affidavit states.
The next day she met with Byars and paid an additional $900 to cover the remainder of her move-in costs. Byars gave her a six-month contract which she provided for the officer. On Oct. 5, the victim started to move her things in and Byars stopped her, telling her the renovations were not complete and she could not move yet, but she could store her belongings there. On Oct. 9, she finished moving her things in and was supposed to start living there, but there was no power. She was approached by the woman she first gave $300 to, who told her Byars was not the landlord and he had been arrested. That’s when she called police. That woman later told police she had no knowledge of Byar’s scam.
While police were investigating, a male tenant approached the officer and told a similar story. He said he responded to an ad on Craigslist; he spoke with Byars who leased him an apartment for $500. That victim wrote Byars five checks totaling $2,400. He told police he could not understand why his electricity was off when he paid his rent every month.
Police contacted the real owner, who told them Byars did not have permission to lease apartments or collect rent. The owner went on to say, Byars had rented from him – in the same building – but that was his only relationship with him, stated the affidavit. They are not uncle and nephew as Byars stated to the female victim. The two victims were forced to move out.
Byars has been booked into the Lake County Jail seven times on a variety of charges ranging from DUI to scheme to defraud.
_______________________________________
Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. In addition, she has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
