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Grand Island man scams online girlfriends out of more than $300,000

Investigators: Suspect had multiple fake profiles
Posted at 11:12 AM, Aug 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-03 12:00:08-04

A Grand Island man is facing felony fraud and larceny charges after investigators say he scammed at least three women he met online out of more than $300,000.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office says Eric Marshall began a romantic relationship with a Connecticut woman in 2009. Over the next seven years, investigators say Marshall convinced her to send him $198,000 to buy property and other items, including a house that the victim believed the couple would live in together.  According to detectives, the victim sent Marshall $700 a month in mortgage payments for a house that did not exist.

The victim also sent Marshall money for his retail car business, clothing, and airfare.

In addition to the Connecticut woman, investigators say Marshall used fake online profiles to also prey on a woman from Western New York and a woman from Long Island. Detectives say Marshall defrauded these women out of a total of $120,000.

Marshall is charged with two counts of felony grand larceny and one count of felony scheme to defraud.

He is being held without bail at the Erie County Holding Center.