A Fort Myers resident has been charged with fraud and grand theft for utilizing the popular internet site, Craigslist, to rent a residence that was not owned by him to unsuspecting victims.

Rickey Barley, DOB 03/27/1951 was first arrested on November 27, 2009, for burglary to the residence located at 3401 New South Province Blvd, #3, Fort Myers, in the Provincetown Community. Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office had responded to a reported fire at this address. During the course of the investigation, probable cause was developed to arrest Rickey Barley for burglary. The Lee County Fire Marshal conducted an investigation into the suspicious fire.

As deputies were completing the report for the burglary investigation, deputies learned Rickey Barley had attempted to rent this condo on Craigslist, even though he had no ownership interest or legal right to make such a transaction. The investigation was turned over to the Economic Crimes Investigative Unit of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the alleged fraud.

During the course of the fraud investigation, detectives discovered Rickey Barley had utilized Craigslist to rent the property and obtain money from ten victims. By the time detectives discovered the fraud, Barley had received a combined total of $16,500. A few of the victims had met with Rickey Barley to view the condo before payment of the deposit. Some of the victims did not realize they were defrauded until contacted by detectives.

Rickey Barley was arrested for scheme to defraud, 8 counts of grand theft, and one count of grand theft from a person over 65 years of age.

If anyone believes they may have been a victim of this fraud, please contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000 and ask to speak with a member of the Economic Crimes Unit.

Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office