Woman charged in real estate scam spanning 3 counties | Crime

New Port Richey, Florida -- On Friday, June 8, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in conjunction with the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 39-year-old Renee Manning.

Attorney General Pam Bondi says Manning was allegedly part of a real estate scam that spanned at least three Florida counties over the past two years and swindled four Floridians out of $700,000. 

Investigators say Manning coordinated the fictitious sale of a multi-million dollar property in Kissimmee. According to investigators, Manning advised that she was going to broker the sale of the property to an international investor and needed to secure money for a bridge loan until the investor had arranged for financing.

The victims were led to believe that if they invested in the bridge loan they would receive their principal investment plus 30 percent within three months. The victims in this case reside in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Manning, of New Port Richey, was charged with one count of organized scheme to defraud.

Authorities believe there may be other victims, and anyone with related information should contact local law enforcement.