Con Man Tried To Defraud Dick Vitale, Luxury Car Dealer: Sheriff

SARASOTA, FL — A Sarasota man faces charges after using a false name and identity to try to buy two properties and a luxury car worth more than $23 million combined, authorities said.

He also promised a fake multi-million donation to sportscaster Dick Vitale’s cancer foundation.

Robert Schnepf, 48, was charged with scheming to defraud more than $50,000, a felony, according to a news release from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

On Saturday, detectives with the Economic Crimes Unit began investigating “a series of suspicious transactions” by a man who called himself Robert Banagino, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators learned that Banagino — later found to be the false name used by Schnepf — hired a local real estate agent after claiming he was a business owner visiting Sarasota in response to Hurricane Ian. He expressed an interest in purchasing a commercial property worth $17.5 million, as well as a second residential property valued at $5.2 million, SCSO said.

As the real estate agent began the transaction process, Schnepf also said he was interested in purchasing a Rolls Royce. The agent connected him with a local car dealership, where he agreed to buy a 2022 Mercedes-Benz valued at more than $132,000.

At the time of signing, representing himself as Banagino, he opted for the purchase option, but signed using his real name, the sheriff’s office said.

While at the dealership, Schnepf alluded to his millions in assets and the need to donate money for tax purposes. The dealership manager introduced him as Banagino to Vitale. After visiting Vitale’s personal home, he pledged to contribute $3 million to his foundation, according to the agency.

Detectives soon identified the fraudster as Schnepf, a two-time convicted felon. He is on probation for grand theft and has prior arrests in Florida and New York for grand theft, burglary, assault, possession of forged instruments, criminal impersonation and more, the sheriff's office said.

He remains in custody in Sarasota County on a $100,000 bond while the investigation continues.

Vitale tweeted about the incident Saturday, saying a close friend brought Schnepf to meet him about donating $3 million to his nonprofit organization, The V Foundation, which focuses on cancer research.

“This morning I am devastated (and) heartbroken to find out he is a notorious con man who has been arrested numerous times all over from NYC to Florida,” the sportscaster tweeted. “I believed that we had $3 million for kids vs. cancer. I am sick to think in my house he was hugging my wife (and) I (and) so happy.”