Couple: Con Man Tried To Sell Our Land
Man Accused Of Trying To Sell Land That Wasn't His
POSTED: Thursday, August 13, 2009
UPDATED: 11:46 am EDT August 14, 2009
Cedric Frierson More
WINDERMERE, Fla. -- An Orange County family wants to warn Central Floridians about a con man who they said nearly destroyed their retirement plans.
VIDEO: Couple Says Man Pretended To Be Son
Jean Guerrier said Cedric Frierson tried to sell a piece of property he and his wife own and pocket the money.
Guerrier said he and his wife hope to someday build their retirement home on a piece of land they own near Windermere, but earlier this summer, they said Frierson tried to sell the land without their knowledge.
The Guerriers met Frierson when he offered to rent a townhome the couple owns near the Orange County Convention Center. The couple was thrilled with their new tenant.
"When he came, I thought he was a very decent man. He came with family, his wife and four kids," Guerrier said.
Guerrier said he and his wife Jacqueline thought it was a bit odd when Frierson gave him a nickname.
"He just called me 'Pop.' And asked for me to call him 'Son.' He said, 'From now on, I'm going to call you Pops,'" Guerrier said.
The couple said Frierson offered to help them sell off some of their many investment properties, including the lot in Windermere, but they declined and said the land was not for sale.
Guerrier said Frierson ignored them, and tried to sell the land anyway without his knowledge by forging the couple's signature on a contract and giving a realtor permission to list their property for $215,000.
The land was photographed, an MLS listing was created and the property was put up for sale.
The realtor said Frierson told him that the Guerriers were his parents.
When the realtor requested a survey of the land, Frierson reportedly forwarded him an e-mail, claiming it was written by Guerrier, in which Guerrier addressed Frierson as his son.
The Guerriers said when they discovered their land had been put up for sale, they confronted Frierson., who moved out of their townhome and disappeared.
Private investigator James Copenhaver is trying to track down Frierson and said he believes the man may be scamming other Central Floridians.
"The economy is in the tank, and Jean and his wife were bamboozled by this Cedric character," Copenhaver said.
The Guerriers filed a criminal complaint against Frierson with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
"I think the only thing that will help him is to go to jail, because that's the only place he will learn. Even God, I don't think God can help him," Guerrier said.
The realtor took the land off the market after becoming suspicious of Frierson.
Local 6 has been unable to contact Frierson for a comment.
