The Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 48-year-old man after he allegedly stole $1,800 from a woman who was looking to rent an apartment in Ocala.
On May 23, an MCSO corporal and deputy responded to the 4300 block of SW 110th Lane to investigate a fraud incident. Upon arrival, they made contact with the female victim who advised that she had lost $1,800 in a rental scam, according to the arrest report.
The victim advised that on or around May 4, she saw an advertisement for an apartment that was posted on an online message board. The apartment was located at Tuscany Place Apartments (3240 SW 34th Street in Ocala).
According to the MCSO report, the victim called the phone number listed on the advertisement and spoke with a man who was later identified as Enrique Colon Lopez. They made arrangements to meet at the apartment complex at around 5:30 p.m. on May 6.
The victim stated that she met Colon Lopez at the apartment complex on May 6, and he showed her an empty unit. Two days later, on May 8, she met Colon Lopez at her place of employment and gave him $1,000 in cash as a down payment on the apartment. The MCSO report stated that the victim received a handwritten receipt from Colon Lopez showing that she had a remaining balance of $800.
On May 14, the victim advised that she met Colon Lopez at the Lowe’s located at 7575 SW 90th Street in Ocala, and she gave him the remaining $800 in cash. She did not receive a receipt, and she told investigators that she did not hear from Colon Lopez again. She attempted to call him multiple times, but the calls went unanswered, according to the MCSO report.
The victim advised that she went to the rental office at Tuscany Place Apartments on May 23, and she was informed that the unit she had viewed with Colon Lopez was still available for rent. The MCSO report stated that the office further informed the victim that there was no record of her starting the rental procedure, and the office confirmed that Colon Lopez did not work at the apartment complex.
On Monday, June 19, an MCSO deputy responded to the victim’s place of employment and obtained video surveillance footage from May 8, which showed Colon Lopez greeting the victim. The deputy noted in the report that after a brief interaction, Colon Lopez left the store.
The MCSO report stated that Colon Lopez was identified through a comparison of his driver’s license photo as well as past inmate photographs. A computer search of Colon Lopez revealed that he has an active warrant from the Orlando Police Department. In addition, he was previously accused of committing a similar rental property scam in April of 2012.
On Tuesday, June 20, a photo lineup of suspects was presented to the victim, and she “quickly and confidently” identified Colon Lopez as the suspect who had scammed her, according to the MCSO report.
Colon Lopez was located, arrested, and transported to Marion County Jail on Wednesday, June 21. He is currently being held at the jail on $6,000 bond, and he is facing felony charges for fraud (one count) and grand theft of over $300 but less than $5,000 (two counts).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, according to jail records.