ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A former Winter Park man accused of ripping off local investors for millions of dollars is reportedly doing it again in Georgia.
Justin Spearman was ordered by an Orange County judge in March to pay back nearly $2 million that he had scammed off of locals.
Spearman's ex-fiancée, Cristian Michaels, wants to warn others before they fall into the same trap.
Michaels said Spearman is charming and compassionate and used that to trick people out of their money so he could spend it on a lavish lifestyle.
“It was kind of a whirlwind romance,” Michaels said. "There always seemed to be little inconsistencies, but he was so talented and skilled at convincing you were wrong."
Michaels said Spearman has expensive homes, private planes and proposed to him at a majestic castle but that he woke up from his fairy tale and found himself in a nightmare.
"Every piece of my life was basically pulled up from under me," Michaels said. "You're engaged to someone, so people assume you must have known, you must have shared bank accounts, but we didn't, everything was completely separate."
Spearman was named in a civil suit filed by attorney Jay Brennan claiming he stole millions from people who thought they were investing in oil and gas leases.
"I have tried to warn people wherever I could not to do business with this man," Brennan said.
Spearman moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he tried to buy multimillion-dollar mansions before moving to the Carolinas and Georgia, according to Brennan.
State prosecutors said "it would not be appropriate" for them "to comment on a potential or pending matter."
Spearman’s attorney would also not comment.
WFTV
