Man who fled to Hawaii nabbed by authorities for large financial fraud in Orlando – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
A 57-year-old Orlando resident accused of running a nonexistent development project has been taken into custody in Hawaii while trying to board a connecting flight to Texas. Authorities say the man, Steven Harry Minard, promoted the venture as a major downtown entertainment and urban renewal effort that would generate up to $1.6 billion in revenue. Instead, investigators determined the project never existed and that investor funds were used for unrelated debts and personal expenses.
The case highlights how state and federal agencies coordinated across thousands of miles to locate and detain the suspect before he could leave the country. Minard now faces charges of scheme to defraud and selling an unregistered security in connection with the alleged $1 million loss to a single investor.
The Alleged Scheme Unraveled
Minard promoted the project under the name “Orlando World Live,” describing it as a transformative entertainment complex in downtown Orlando. Forensic analysis later showed no permit applications, contracts, or filings with city officials. Interviews with more than a dozen witnesses confirmed that the promised development had no physical presence or operational plans…