FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A Broward County judge has revoked the bond for a real estate associate accused of stealing thousands from his clients.
Mohamed Donald has been accused of hosting various real estate scams and stealing money from multiple clients.
Donald was supposed to make a court appearance Tuesday morning to determine if his bond was going to be revoked. However, he did not show up.
For his alleged victims, the suspect’s failure to appear in court came as no surprise. “I’ve kind of accepted it,” said Stacie Roy, one of Donald’s accusers. “He’s continued to do this for the past year.”
As a result, prosecutors asked the judge to revoke Donald’s bond. The judge did just that and also issued a warrant for his arrest.
Roy, who came to the Broward County Courthouse to witness Donald’s hearing, said she met Donald about a year ago, when she was trying to rent a home for her son.
The alleged victim said she found him online, wrote a check for him, and he disappeared. “He had all the credentials. He had a wrapped car, a tag that said ‘Realtor,'” said Roy. “He had a business card, he had a website, but we were scammed.”
Donald was arrested twice, both times posting bond. According to police, he kept the scam going once he got out of jail.
Dan Scantlan was moving to Fort Lauderdale from Charleston, South Carolina. He hired Donald to help him find a home.
Scantlan said he wrote Donald two checks totaling $7,350. Then the Realtor vanished, along with his money.
“He’s very methodical with how he does things, and it’s scary, because he can get anybody,” said Scantlan. “That’s the sad part.”
7News found police reports involving Donald all over Broward County over the past month. Individuals claimed the Realtor had swindled them as well.
His alleged victims said they’re hoping the arrest warrant marks the start of justice.
Roy offered some words of advice for prospective buyers and renters. “Do your homework. Make sure you sign papers at a Realtor’s office,” she said. “Make sure they show you a valid license. This is a hard lesson that was learned. You work hard for your money, you hand it over, you think you’re doing the right thing.”
The State Attorney’s Office said an officer will likely pick Donald up.
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