Beaches man wanted in elder fraud investigation

A 42-year-old man is being sought in connection with the financial exploitation of two elderly Ponte Vedra Beach residents earlier this year, according to an alert received by local Historic City News reporters in St Augustine this afternoon.

St Johns County Sheriff’s detective Hank Miller reported that he has identified Bryan Keith Ruby, who was last known to reside in the 2700 block of Colonies Way in Jacksonville Beach, as the man who has defrauded at least two St Johns County families and may be further involved as additional victims with similar stories come forward during this investigation.

The first victim pointed Ruby out to detectives as the man who took $360 from her on July 19 to replace the back seat of her golf cart. He has never provided the replacement seat, Miller said.

The second victims indicated that they made a personal loan of $3,200 to Ruby in May. They told Miller that Ruby “played on their sympathy” with a story about his wife who needed an insulin pump. To date, the victims say Ruby has only paid back $400. Later, in August, the elderly couple paid Ruby just under $1,000 to replace a piece of pool equipment; which they say he has never installed and for which he will make no refund.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at (904) 824-8304 or Detective Miller at (904) 209-3999. You can remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).