A well-known condo development promising a luxurious lifestyle is under investigation.
The Prima Luce development has been selling condos for more than 9 years however, its lot still sits empty.
The matter is being taken seriously as the Fort Myers Police Department confirms that detectives who handle financial crimes are investigating multiple complaints from Prima Luce condo investors.
Those investors say they handed over hundreds of thousands of dollars to the developer of the waterside oasis that has been caught up in delays for nine years.
Jeff Sachs is one of dozens of condo investors who put a down payment on a promised condo and still has nothing to show for.
“He was selling an empty bag of tricks so that in and of itself, to me, is completely fraud,” Sachs said.
Sachs and others have asked the FMPD financial crimes detectives to investigate.
“We have sent all of our communications into the financial crimes detective within the FMPD,” said Dan Payson, who also invested.
He said detectives have been asking questions.
“There's a lot to sift through but I have all the confidence that they'll find something,” Payson noted.
FMPD confirmed they are investigating and that they have been in contact with the State Attorney’s Office in the case.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson also received numerous complaints about people investing in something that has never materialized.
“It doesn't smell good,” Anderson told Gulf Coast News saying he supports an investigation.
“I've requested the police department to take a look at it,” he confirmed.
Many investors say they have asked for their money to be returned.
“I finally hired a lawyer here in Fort Myers to send a demand letter to the law firm and Mr. MacFarlane,” said Christine Campbell.
Developer Bob MacFarlane promised the two-tower 22 story high rise would be finished in 2020 and admitted last month that there have been delays.
He blamed architectural problems, the permitting process, covid and hurricanes
“It's not an excuse at all. It just takes time to go through everything I've mentioned,” MacFarlane said last month.
The bank has foreclosed on his property. According to the Lee County Clerk of Courts MacFarlane owes $37 million to his creditor or the property goes to public auction on Thursday.
MacFarlane announced last month he had received funding from a lending institution.
“We have finally received full approval from a lender. We have signed the transaction,” MacFarlane said.
However, he now claims that the lender was a scam and not a real bank. His public relations firm said Monday he now has another loan in place.
"Mr. MacFarlane is meeting with his lender face-to-face and he looks forward to putting this all to rest before the 13th,” the firm stated.
As of Tuesday evening, MacFarlane has still not paid the debt and property is set to be auctioned to the highest cash bidder Thursday at 9 a.m.