Police Looking For More Victims After Bal Harbour Con Man's Arrest
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BAL HARBOUR (CBSMiami) -- A notorious con man has been caught in Bal Harbour, police said.
Officers said following an extensive investigation, they arrested Simon Gann, also known as "Don Juan the Con Man," accused of taking items worth more than $20,000.
Bal Habour Police Chief Mark Overton told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "It's good to get him off the street and what we are asking for is, if anyone recognizes his face and may have been victimized and did not come forward, that they do so we can get more charges against him."
Overton spoke to CBS4 as Gann was walked to a police car.
According to the investigation, Gann met the victim and a friend at the lobby of the Ritz Carlton South Beach during Labor Day weekend.
On Friday, September 4th, police said Gann claimed to be a professional gambler and convinced the victim to front him money.
"He told the victim that he had autism and convinced him that he could count cards like the movie Rain man," said Overton. "He convinced the victim to withdraw large sums of money and take it to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino so he could gamble it away. That's why they call them con men. He is a con artist and was very good at gaining peoples' confidence."
That's when the victim pawned a $100,000 Rolex and received $20,000 which the victim gave to Gann who in turn gave him what police say was possibly a bad check.
The victim in this case pawned a $100,000 Rolex and received $20,000, which the victim gave to Gann who, in turn, gave him what police say was possibly a bad check.
Gann later went with the victim and his friend to the casino where he played black jack with $10,000 that was given to him by the victim. He lost. The victim, on the other hand, won $10,000.
Later the same day, around 3 a.m, the three went to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. During that time the victim went to shower.
That's when, police said, Gann took an $850 Louis Vuitton belt, $1,500 Louis Vuitton brown suede loafers, $590 Louis Vuitton green and yellow shirt, as well as $10,000 from the victim's pants and got away.
Gann is now facing a charge of second degree grand theft.
"He also has a history of other things and other scams and represents himself as a mathematician from M.I.T.," said Overton. "So he has a whole cache of characters he uses to gain the confidence of people."
"It's like the old adage that if it's too good to be true it probably is," said Overton. "What you have to make sure is you don't allow strangers into your confidence. You have to make sure that this does not happen."
