Qualified Intermediary Scam?

Qualified Intermediary Scam?

Investor · Mooresville, NC · Member since 2017 · 29 posts · 22 votes

Hi everyone...  I'm new to this forum, thanks for having me.

I'm in a little bind and need some help related to a 1031 exchange where a Qualified Intermediary is holding $113,344.93 of my money.   Looking for some advice.

It's this group- http://www.qualifiedintermediary.net/  (moderator, i hope it's ok to list the company, i would like to verify it's not a scam).

I closed on a new property today at 3pm (EST).   i told this Hetsler group last wednesday, 8/2/17 that today was the closing.   I reminded them on Friday, 8/4/17 and was told the funds would be wired into the account that night.   Didn't happen.   

I was told today by 10am the funds would be in the account.   Again, didn't happen.   Was told 2pm, didn't happen.    

They're dogging my calls and will not return emails/ or any correspondence related to this transaction.  I had a friend go by their "office" and it is a Regus key man office space.   

What are my options related to access to the funds to make sure they have not scammed me?   The dude's name is Robert Hetsler.   Apparently "Dr." but I'm not buying that is legit.  

Thanks everyone.

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Property Manager · Northeast Florida · Member since 2015 · 135 posts · 76 votes
8y

@Cheryl Dopp - So you have joined BP today, just to comment on this? 
I'd encourage you to go beyond just the first posters comments and feel the anguish of all the investors that lost money.
Then come back and offer some real value in your review. " trying to get in touch with Robert over a new transaction" .... seriously? Please read all 7 pages. 

I think everyone would agree that - NO this thread has not contributed to him being run out of business - His actions have led to him to BE out of business.

Did investor funds pay for this? His $500 QI fee certainly did not ..... 06/22/17, Robert Hetsler paid $1 million for the 5,589-square-foot home at 4871 Scenic Marsh Court, off Heckscher Drive. Now in foreclosure! 

I am in the middle of my first 1031 exchange right now and my QI is

The fee is 1k plus $200 on the back end for the identified property. Your attorney will not be shocked by this rate.  You will be in good hands with Claudia. Good luck on your next transaction.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Longview, TX · Member since 2017 · 65 posts · 50 votes
    8y
    Or if that's really his body in the hospital. That's a lot of money to disappear on.
  • Real Estate Investor · Panama, Panama · Member since 2015 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Hi people:

    Opencorporates is a page you can search corporations worlwide. Hestler appears as officer in a bunch of inactive and in 4 active companies:

  • Tom GimerBusiness Member
    DMV · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    @Carlos Maron

    Nice.

    Don't stop with "Robert".

    Gimer Law518 Reviews
  • Realtor and Investor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
  • Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Michaela G.  From the time of night and the question the police asked and his answer and his history from the murder case I am certain the police are trying to figure out if he was freebasing.

    When they asked "were you smoking" they would not have been talking about cigarettes.

    This story is sad from lots of directions.

  • Investor · Vacaville, CA · Member since 2016 · 433 posts · 249 votes
    8y

    Why were homicide detectives called if nobody died?  Strange.  Sad all the way around.  I hope all of you get as much of your money back as possible. 

  • Investor · Vacaville, CA · Member since 2016 · 433 posts · 249 votes
    8y

    Not sure this pdf works.  I found the email when I had traded emails with him about buying his properties in Jax. This was in February. It's a list of the properties he was trying to sell. Might be worth tracking who he sold them to just to verify they were arms length sales.

  • Jesup, GA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    He emailed me the morning of his accident, I had an issue with my storage unit. He owns 2 storage unit facilities in Jesup, GA.

  • Jesup, GA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    🍿🍿🍿

    Robert Hetsler Jr. took a swim for the first time in 16

    months yesterday after being acquitted late Friday night of

    first-degree murder.

    Instead of facing the death penalty,Hetsler, 21, said he plans

    to sue the state. But first he'll take a trip to Las Vegas,

    courtesy of his father.

    "I don't know about gambling," Hetsler said. "But I do know I

    will be partying."

    Hetsler was acquitted of the September 1994 murder of

    17-year-old Brandon Hyland in Jacksonville. After five hours of

    deliberation Friday, the jury returned a unanimous verdict just

    before midnight to Circuit Judge Henry E. Davis. Hetsler also

    was cleared of charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

  • Investor · Mooresville, NC · Member since 2017 · 29 posts · 22 votes
    8y

    has anyone heard anything related to an update on their case?

  • Realtor and Investor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Victoria L Welch:

    🍿🍿🍿

    Robert Hetsler Jr. took a swim for the first time in 16

    months yesterday after being acquitted late Friday night of

    first-degree murder.

    Instead of facing the death penalty,Hetsler, 21, said he plans

    to sue the state. But first he'll take a trip to Las Vegas,

    courtesy of his father.

    "I don't know about gambling," Hetsler said. "But I do know I

    will be partying."

    Hetsler was acquitted of the September 1994 murder of

    17-year-old Brandon Hyland in Jacksonville. After five hours of

    deliberation Friday, the jury returned a unanimous verdict just

    before midnight to Circuit Judge Henry E. Davis. Hetsler also

    was cleared of charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

     I don't think this is the same guy.  They guy that this forum thread is about was in his 40s.

  • Investor · Mooresville, NC · Member since 2017 · 29 posts · 22 votes
    8y

    The case noted was back in 1994 when Hestler was 21

  • Jesup, GA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    It's that same guy

  • Walnut Creek, CA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Matt K.:

     No clue none of my investors are caught up in this web of criminality ... after watching that American greed episode on ed Okun I have completely different take on 1031.. I had no clue it was a completely unregulated enterprise.. so choosing an accomodator is Highly critical  

  • Tom GimerBusiness Member
    DMV · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    I'd like to change my vote on the 1994 murder, armed robbery and kidnapping verdict.

    Gimer Law518 Reviews
  • Investor · Birmingham, AL · Member since 2016 · 446 posts · 305 votes
    8y

    DAMN!!! This was a good read.

  • Jesup, GA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lawsuits-contend-man-burned-in-car-fire-embezzled-millions

  • Realtor and Investor · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Victoria L Welch:

    https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lawsuits-contend-man-burned-in-car-fire-embezzled-millions

     Wow....everyone keep eyes on the wife.  She is trying to file to separate finances, but she worked with him at his company.  Does anyone doubt she knew what was going on, or was involved??!

  • Investor · Mooresville, NC · Member since 2017 · 29 posts · 22 votes
    8y

    Wow.  Amazing!!!   So sorry others got scammed by him. I almost said “burned by him” but thought better of it.  

  • Investor · Vacaville, CA · Member since 2016 · 433 posts · 249 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Cara Lonsdale:
    Originally posted by @Victoria L Welch:

    https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lawsuits-contend-man-burned-in-car-fire-embezzled-millions

     Wow....everyone keep eyes on the wife.  She is trying to file to separate finances, but she worked with him at his company.  Does anyone doubt she knew what was going on, or was involved??!

     I hope the victim's lawyer figure out what to file in the divorce to put a stop to her trying to break away. Good luck to all of you!

  • Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2017 · 36 posts · 33 votes
    8y
    The worst part of these QI scams is the Federal government created the opportunity for these thieves and then doesn’t regulate the industry! The laws require us to transfer our gains to strangers whom we will likely never meet. Why not allow us to possess our own money after a sale and if it is not reinvested within the 120 days subject it to capital gains.
  • Investor · Mooresville, NC · Member since 2017 · 29 posts · 22 votes
    8y

    has there been any news on our friend Robert?

  • Seattle, WA · Member since 2015 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    I was lucky that my deal went through before this guy had bad accident and his shadiness was exposed.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lawsuits-contend-man-burned-in-car-fire-embezzled-millions

  • Natalie KolodijBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Tax Strategist| National Tax Educator| Accepting New Clients · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    Dr. Robert Hetsler, Jr., J.D., CPA, CVA, FCPA, CFF, MAFF, CMAP

    I was able to find he is a CPA in VA...I'm curious if he's actually a Doctor too. His Linked in also reads that he went to Harvard, and law school. Separately.

    I'm curious if he actually has the string of qualifications after his name 

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