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Press Release

Federal Jury Convicts Former Southwest Florida Real Estate Broker In Half Million Dollar Fraud Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida

Fort Myers, Florida – A federal jury has convicted former real estate broker Aaron Eyerman (38, Cape Coral) in a scheme to defraud an investor of $561,000. Following a six-day trial, the jury found Eyerman guilty of three counts of wire fraud, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of false oath in relation to a bankruptcy proceeding. Eyerman’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9, 2019.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Eyerman met the victim, a retired schoolteacher from Pennsylvania, working in the real estate industry. In 2015, Eyerman made false statements to the victim and convinced her to invest $300,000 in a real estate venture. Specifically, Eyerman indicated they would “flip” houses; that is, buy, rehab, and re-sell properties. Instead of using the money for that purpose, Eyerman gambled away a large portion of the money at casinos and, over a matter of seven weeks, spent the remainder on personal luxury goods, including a custom Porsche 911, a $12,700 Rolex watch, and a $50,000 down payment on his personal luxury waterfront residence in Cape Coral, Florida.

Without telling the victim that he had already spent all of her initial investment, Eyerman went back to her in August 2015, seeking more money. This time, Eyerman lied about a second business opportunity – a purported new home construction company. Eyerman convinced the victim to provide him with another $261,000, which he immediately spent for personal use, including gambling most of it away at the Seminole Indian Casino in Immokalee, Florida. In total, Eyerman defrauded the victim of $561,000.  

After the victim sued to get her money back, Eyerman declared bankruptcy to avoid his debt, and lied under oath, about how he had spent the $561,000. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Schmitz and Kyle Cohen.

Updated June 5, 2019

Topics
Bankruptcy
Financial Fraud
Securities, Commodities, & Investment Fraud