People who know him say Domenick Perez is a smooth talker who claims to operate a car sales business. We found half a dozen people, all of whom claim they lost thousands of dollars on rides that didn't exist.
Armando Romero said he met Perez, a convicted felon, at the Hard Rock Casino. Over the course of a couple of weeks, Romero says, Perez gained his trust. Victims say Perez posed as a used car dealer. Armando told us he paid Perez $2,400 as a down payment on a used Lexus.
But multiple customers say Perez changed his phone number after giving them the run around as to why their vehicles had not been delivered.
Andrew Weiner says Perez stole some $40,000 from him, the money he put down on several vehicles that Weiner now says did not exist.
Both men had no idea Perez is a convicted felon who served two stints in prison for exploitation of the elderly and grand theft. We shared their information with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Economic Crimes unit, which launched a criminal investigation.
We went to the last two addresses listed for the 41-year-old, but he was nowhere to be found.
The case was turned over to the State Attorney’s Office. They confirm the criminal investigation is ongoing.
