Lake Lanier Boat Salesman Charged With Theft, Fraud

BUFORD, GA — A boat salesman at Lake Lanier has been arrested on charges that he ripped off people who had contracted for him to either buy or help sell their boats.

Paul Schwan, 42, of Cartersville, was arrested Monday and charged with seven counts of theft by conversion, two counts of fraud and two counts of theft by deception, the Hall County Sheriff's Office reported.

Schwan worked at Holiday Boat Sales in Buford.

According to the sheriff's office, which launched an investigation in June, Schwan on multiple occasions took possession of boats with an agreement to either buy the boats or sell them for the owners.

In almost all of the cases, Schwan instead sold the boat to a third party and kept the money for himself, sheriff's deputies say.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office, in a news release, accuses Schwan of the following incidents:

• On or around April 1, 2015, Schwan took possession of a 1994 Sumerset houseboat valued at about $193,000 with the agreement to buy it or sell it for the legal owner. He sold the boat for $310,000 and kept the proceeds for himself.
• On or about Aug. 20, 2015, Schwan took possession of a 1989 Lazy Days houseboat valued at about $119,000 with the agreement to buy or sell it for the legal owner. He sold the boat for $117,500 and kept the proceeds.
• On or about Nov. 1, 2015, Schwan took possession of a 2004 Sumerset houseboat valued at about $285,000, with the agreement to buy it or sell it for the legal owner. He sold the boat for $285,000 and wrote the legal owner a check for that amount. The check bounced.
• On or about Nov. 15, 2015, Schwan took possession of a 1998 Stardust houseboat valued at about $130,000 with the agreement to buy it or sell it for the lawful owner. Schwan sold the boat and kept the proceeds.

Photo courtesy Hall County Sheriff's Office