An Oakland County man accused of stealing deposits from prospective business owners after their deals failed now faces prison time, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced last Friday.
Denny DiCapo, 62, of Rochester Hills, was arraigned before Magistrate Marie Soma in Oakland County’s 52-3 District Court and is charged with the following:
• Five counts of larceny by conversion, $1,000 to $20,000, five-year felonies.
• One count conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony.
The Department alleges DiCapo used his now-dissolved corporation, Biz Capital Brokerage Inc. to scam six victims out of $21,000 in refundable good-faith deposits for the purchases of businesses after identifying himself as a business broker and listing agent for restaurants, a gas station, and an automobile service center. DiCapo allegedly persuaded victims to pay him refundable good-faith deposits in order to purchase these businesses, which was also documented in contracts, but then took the money when the deals fell through.
“Exploiting hardworking people with the intent to scam them out of their hard-earned money will not be tolerated by my Financial Crimes Division,” Nessel said. “We will fight for residents who are cheated and pursue accountability for bad actors.”
DiCapo’s bond was set at $100,000 cash and he must obtain a GPS tether if he is released from the Oakland County Jail. A probable cause conference is scheduled for August 2 and a preliminary examination is scheduled for August 9.
