A wellness influencer is accused of stealing greater than $2.3 million from two high-powered actual property traders she touted as her “role models” throughout a brazen three-year scheme — utilizing the money to finance her magnificence enterprise and splurge on designer items, luxurious house décor and a private shopper, in accordance with a report.
Bobbi Vargas, 46, was nabbed Wednesday after police found she used 5 bank cards belonging to finance gurus Grant and Elena Cardone to make practically $450,000 in fraudulent Amazon purchases between April 2021 and March 2024, in accordance with a Las Vegas Metro police report obtained by KLAS.
Police stated the Bodel wellness model founder, whose actual identify is Bobbi Awad, funded a PayPal account utilizing practically $2 million she swiped from the couple’s bank cards.
“This pattern of financial transactions showed Awad used a front company (Bodella LLC) to launder the proceeds of this theft,” police wrote within the report, per the outlet.
Court docket paperwork confirmed that Vargas, who has greater than 202,000 followers on Instagram, used the couple’s cash to make 7,400 on-line purchases, together with a brick pizza oven, an 83-inch tv and a dual-range gasoline range.
The approach to life entrepreneur — who publicly regarded the big-wig duo who endorsed President Trump as “role models” on social media — additionally used their capital on $169,000 value of designer merchandise, with 147 funds totaling round $800,000 on her enterprise and workers, police stated.
A private shopper, housekeeper, electrician and a contractor had been amongst these on her payroll, with different funds spent at shops like Pottery Barn, Web-a-Porter and eBay.
A 3rd sufferer — recognized solely as a “friend” — additionally informed police that Vargas allegedly stuffed faux forex inside a shoebox to repay a $100,000 mortgage, the outlet reported.
Detectives “contacted propmoney.com” and located the alleged fraudster bought a complete of $103,000 in varied denominations,” which was delivered to her house three days earlier than she met with the third sufferer, courtroom information confirmed.
Police launched their greater than yearlong investigation after American Categorical notified Elena Cardone, a self-described function mannequin entrepreneur, about suspicious transactions on her bank card, together with 10 Amazon present playing cards despatched to Vargas, the outlet reported.
Vargas is charged with 19 felonies, together with six counts of theft exceeding $100,000, 4 counts of tried cash laundering and one depend of acquiring a credit score or debit card with out proprietor’s consent.
She was launched from custody after showing in Las Vegas Justice Court docket — with the choose issuing a stern warning.
“The first problem I have with you will be the last problem I have with you,” Choose Eric Goodman cautioned throughout their courtroom look, the outlet reported.
“I’ll put you into custody. I’ll keep you in custody.”
Vargas took to Instagram Friday night time to guarantee her followers that “there’s always two sides to a story.”
She faces greater than 20 years behind bars if convicted.
