Larceny and fraud investigation nets one arrest

A 37-year old St. Johns County man was arrested on five counts each of grand theft and organized scheme to defraud this morning.

Mark Douglas Blanton, 37, 272 Johns Creek Parkway, was booked into the County Jail where he remains in lieu of bonds totaling $50,000.

Blanton was operating a business called “Knock 46 Custom Cycles” at 150 Hilden Rd, where he had entered into contracts with at least five individuals between October 2012 and November 2013 to purchase and customize motorcycles.

The victims had made payments to Blanton of between $20,000 and $40,000 for partial or full amounts. The victims then never received the motorcycles or their money back when requested.

Following Blanton’s arrest this morning, detectives obtained a search warrant for his home and a storage unit off U.S. 1 where they seized a large amount of motorcycle parts.

The investigation, which began last year, revealed that the victims were from all over the United States, one from Alberta, Canada, and one from the Middle East. Charges were signed on five cases and additional charges are pending further investigation.

817.034.4a2, Fraud-Swindle, S, F, $5000.00
812.014.2b1, Larc, S, F, $5000.00
812.014.2b1, Larc, S, F, $5000.00
817.034.4a2, Fraud-Swindle, S, F, $5000.00
817.034.4a2, Fraud-Swindle, S, F, $5000.00
812.014.2b1, Larc, S, F, $5000.00
812.014.2b1, Larc, S, F, $5000.00
817.034.4a2, Fraud-Swindle, S, F, $5000.00
817.034.4a2, Fraud-Swindle, S, F, $5000.00
812.014.2b1, Larc, S, F, $5000.00