Boca Raton Man Accused of Running Housing Scam   

By Jason Schwartz

A convicted con artist was back behind bars this week after he allegedly swindled four people out of their money after he put a false rental advertisement on Craigslist, police said.

Police charged Daniel Fournier, 29, with four counts of organized scheme to defraud/grand theft.

Fournier, who was renting a room from an 81 year old resident, advertised a three-bedroom home in the 900 block of West Camino Real for rent, police said. Over two months, he allowed people to tour the home, had them to sign a lease and then take their security deposits without allowing them to move in.

Fournier also had Ann Brooks, the 81 year old owner of the house unknowingly sign the fictitious lease agreements, authorities said.

Police said the victims filed reports about the advertisement between April and July.

Johanna Fonseca was among the victims. The Florida Atlantic University student is still in shock at what happened to her.

Fonseca was looking on Craigslist for a house to rent with two of her friends when she ran across the ad. She met with Brooks the following day and liked the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

“He said we need to sign the lease later that day and give him the deposit because there were so many people interested in the house,” Fonseca said.

Fonseca then met with Fournier, who told her that Brooks would be moving out in a couple of weeks.

Fonseca said she and her friends each gave Fournier $832 as a security deposit, but there was a problem closer to move-in day.

“He told us we wouldn’t be able to move in on July 15 because the old lady’s finances, Anne Brooks, wouldn’t be able to go into assisted living at that time,” Fonseca said. “She would have to wait another month, but we would be able to move in on Sept. 1.”

Fonseca said she tried calling Fournier several times until he finally answered.

In 2007, Fournier was sentenced to a two- to three-year sentence for burning down his grandmother’s Salem, Mass. home, which killed her four pet parakeets, according to records. In 2010, records show he violated his probation and was sentenced to another two years in prison.

Brooks said that in April, Fournier asked her if she wanted to participate in a program that would show off her house as a model home to make money.

The deal sounded suspicious, so Brooks told Fournier she didn’t want anything to do with it. He explained to Brooks that it was a standard real estate practice, and when Brooks continued to resist, he told her he could get fired from his job if she wouldn’t agree to it.

“He’s very smooth — very, very smooth,” she said. “He’s a real con man. He would come in with flowers, or pizza, or anything and try to win you over.”

Feeling pressured, Brooks said she gave in and just let Fournier bring in people for tours. Police said Fournier would tell the prospective renters that Brooks was his aunt as he showed them the house.