Scam suspect sentenced to one year of probation

A Miami man accused of trying to scam $50,000 from a Weston resident last September was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to a felony possession of false or stolen RMV documents charge.

Several other charges against Bryan Martinez, 23, including two felony conspiracy and two misdemeanor attempt to commit a crime charges, were dropped at the request of the state. His probation is set to end on July 28, 2027.

Martinez was accused of participating in an elaborate scheme in which he and an associate attempted to scam a Spruce Hill Road resident out of about $51,900 by posing as fraud investigators from Bank of America and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), according to court documents.

Prosecutors accused Martinez and another suspect, identified as Chris Austin in court documents, of repeatedly contacting the victim over the course of several days. Documents also state the duo were successful in depriving the victim of $9,900, which was withdrawn from an ATM in Miami. On Sept. 30, 2025, Martinez and Austen scheduled a pickup of $42,000 from the victim’s home.They tried to meet with the victim at the Chase Bank in town, but their car was in the shop for repairs.

The victim contacted the Weston Police Department on Sept. 29 after discovering $9,900 was missing from his Apple Wallet. The following day, Detective Kevin Langley arrived the morning of the scheduled pickup to assist the victim, according to Langley’s narrative of the case.

Upon Langley’s arrival, Austin called the victim to set up the transfer of $42,000, but no vehicle arrived. Instead, Langley said, a man, later identified as Martinez, stepped out from behind the victim’s home in an “ambush-style of approach,” while the victim was still on the phone. At that point, Langley wrote that he moved to intercept Martinez, who began running toward Spruce Hill Road and then into the woods.

Martinez was later found at a residence on North Avenue by Chief Denis Linehan, who arrested him without incident, according to Linehan’s narrative. Linehan said he identified the suspect based on fellow officers’ descriptions, Martinez’s physical condition and proximity to Spruce Hill Road. When Martinez was arrested, Linehan wrote that he had a Florida driver’s license issued to Cornelius Smart.

In his interview at the Weston Police Department with Langley and Lt. Michael Forti, Martinez said he had flown to Massachusetts on Sept. 28 “to travel,” and that he arrived in Weston via an Uber, but he was “unable to explain to us why he had selected Spruce Hill Road as his destination,” according to Langley’s narrative.

The $9,900 was returned following the arrest.

Martinez’s probation conditions require him to stay away from the victim and their home.