MBPD arrest Hermosa movie investment scammer
Hermosa Beach resident Jose “Tony” Perez was arrested by Manhattan Beach police on theft charges earlier this month. Photo courtesy of MBPD
Police arrested a Hermosa man earlier this month for conning a Manhattan Beach resident into investing thousands in a bogus movie distribution deal.
On May 5, the Manhattan Beach Police Department arrested Jose “Tony” Perez, 45, for fraudulently soliciting a $20,000 investment that he told the victim would go toward the conversion of several independent films into a digital format for online distribution.
“This one’s a little more sophisticated and complex because the dollar amount is quite a bit more than the usually lower level scam,” said Manhattan Beach Police Detective Michael Rosenberger. “And we’re not sure whether he really may have had a connection to the film distribution industry.”
According to Rosenberger, Perez met the Manhattan victim through a local, amateur beach volleyball group that came together through MeetUp.com — an online social networking site that helps people with shared interests plan events.
“Perez got to know him and befriended him,” Rosenberger said. “It wasn’t like it was from an ad somewhere. That’s why it didn’t seem so outrageous.”
Perez allegedly claimed to have the rights to several independent horror and sci-fi films. The investment was to go toward the conversion of the films to a digital, downloadable format compatible with a website run by The Phoenix Entertainment Group – a company Perez claimed to own – where customers could download movies for a fee, police said.
“The deal was he promised the 20 grand would be returned in three months, but there would be additional revenue for one or two years based on the initial investment,” Rosenberger said.
Rosenberger said the victim gave Perez the money in September, but grew suspicious when his principal wasn’t returned at the end of the year, as promised. The victim demanded proof of the investment from Perez, who turned over invoices and receipts from various businesses around L.A.
In March, the victim contacted the MBPD after one of the invoices he had been given didn’t match records from the business at which it was issued and he suspected the documents were counterfeited.
Police hope the documents will help build a case against Perez.
“That’s where we can hopefully prove intent,” Rosenberger said. “If I give you money and don’t get anything back, then you can claim it’s just a crappy investment. Proving intent is the challenge. Counterfeiting documents – that’s a little outside the scope of common business practices.”
Four owners to the rights of films have also been identified as victims of Perez, according to Rosenberger.
“In their cases, the owners signed for him to distribute the movies and receive revenue from making them downloadable for sale,” Rosenberger said. “But no money has been exchanged.”
“I have not met a film owner that had something positive to say about Perez,” he added. “They all said Perez should not be using their films to make money.”
Rosenberger said that it is more difficult for police to prove criminal intent in the case of the film owners, who mostly reside in the Hollywood area. Detectives have spoken to several other South Bay residents who have had business dealings with Perez, but none who have suffered any losses.
Perez was charged with theft by false pretenses and grand theft. He posted $20,000 bail the day after his arrest and his arraignment is scheduled for June 28.
Police are trying to locate additional victims. Anyone with information should contact Det. Rosenberger at (310) 802-5127. ER