Couple Accused In Largo Rental Scam Arrested In Las Vegas Casino

LARGO, FL – A Largo couple accused of scamming 18 families out of thousands of dollars by renting a house they didn’t own has been arrested in Las Vegas.

Largo police say David Johnson, 32, and Nicole Johnson, 29, were being investigated by the Las Vegas Metro Police for another rental scam when investigators discovered the Largo Police warrant for their arrest through a nationwide database.

The Johnsons were located in a casino with their three children, a 6-year-old and 2-year-old twins. The children were taken into protective custody until they could be turned over to their grandparents. The Johnsons were arrested and are awaiting extradition to Pinellas County.

Largo Police said the Johnsons used Craigslist and Facebook to rent a house at 1091 Lexington Court in Largo owned by Nicole Johnson's parents to at least 18 families at once. The Johnsons are accused of taking deposits ranging from $1,000 to $4,300 from the families totaling more than $28,000 (see related story).

The scam came to light on June 19 when five families showed up at the house on the same day to move in.

One family had traveled from Indiana with all of their possessions in a U-Haul. Between renting the U-Haul and paying the Johnsons a deposit, the family didn’t have the funds to return to Indiana so neighbors in the Largo subdivision chipped in to help them buy gas.

Largo Police Detective Steve Allred said the victims had no reason to suspect the authenticity of the lease for the house. Many were given tours of the home. And they were all given signed lease agreements and receipts for the deposits they paid.

The Johnsons even used Nicole’s parents’ names, Lisa and Christopher Dominic, so they matched county tax and ownership records.

"They strung us along pretty good,” said victim Bryan Walker. “Everything panned out. It seemed legit."

Walker was the first to show up to move into the house on June 19. The lease for the apartment he shared with his wife and three daughters, ages 10 and 7 years old and 10 months old, was up. When the scam came to light, he had to send his family to relatives out of state while he looked for alternative housing.

"I was lucky,” said Walker. “I only gave them a $1,250 deposit. Other people paid a lot more."

Just days before the first victims were scheduled to move into the home, the Johnsons fled to New York in a car they stole from Nicole’s parents.

They managed to elude police for more than three months until Las Vegas police located them this week.

Charges against the Johnsons include fraud and forging the signatures of the homeowner.

Image via Largo Police

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