Lee County man on the run after missing court date for arrest for using fake money to buy motorcycle

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Authorities are searching for a man who was arrested for using fake money to scam a Lee County resident out of his motorcycle.

Marty Tanner has been on the run for the last two weeks after failing to show up in court following his arrest for grand theft auto and passing forged bills.

The victim said Tanner responded to his Facebook ad to buy a motorcycle for $1,000. Tanner oddly asked to meet the victim in the middle of the night to make the trade off, to which he agreed.

So at 1:30 in the morning, Tanner handed over the cash, and the victim provided him with the title and keys.

When he got back home, the victim realized that the money was fake, and even said on the bottom that it was for “motion picture purposes.”

He immediately reached back out to Tanner, who said he’d repay him the next week, but as the days came and went, Tanner never responded back and, to no surprise, never paid for the motorcycle with actual real money.

After going dark for a few weeks, police finally located Tanner in North Fort Myers and charged him with grand theft auto and passing phony bills. He was released with the promise of showing up for court, which he’s since failed to do.

Now, he’s forfeited his $10,000 bond and is a wanted felon. Tanner has three local priors, coupled with additional jail time in Polk County.

He is 5’4”, 180 pounds with a tattoo of Momma on his left arm, Sheena on his right ankle and Cracker on his stomach. And upon his arrest, Marty Tanner will be held without bond in the Lee County Jail.

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