Phony Lawyers Duped Time Share Owners Out Of $48k, Deputies Say

LARGO, FL — Three Pinellas County residents face criminal charges after the sheriff’s office says they created an elaborate scam to part time share owners from their money.

According to the agency, Christopher Lyon, 30, of Pinellas Park, David J. Black, 57, of Largo, and Michael A. Anderson, 42, of Clearwater were arrested Tuesday. The sheriff’s office began investigating the three back in July 2015 when victims reported “they were deceived into sending money to subjects in Florida for what they originally believed were fees associated with the sale of their time share properties,” the sheriff’s office said in an email to media.

Between January and November, 2015, the three men are accused of calling time share property owners who were attempting to sell, the sheriff’s office said. “The suspects fraudulently represented themselves as attorneys for BB&T Bank and told the victims that they were assigned to handle the sale of their time share properties,” the email said.

After establishing themselves as attorneys, deputies say the men told their victims to send “prepayment” money through Money Gram. Deputies say the men received $48,211 while running the scam.

Anderson and Black were arrested Tuesday at their homes. Lyon, the sheriff’s office said, was already in jail on violation of probation. All three were charged with scheme to defraud.

Booking photos of Lyon, Black and Anderson courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office