Ormond Beach Couple Scammed $37K in Solar Project Scheme, Deputies Say

Race Day Live (Orlando, FL) – An Orlando man, aged 36, is in legal trouble after authorities reported that he received a cash payment of $37,044 for a solar project at a residence in Volusia County and subsequently vanished with the funds.

An Ormond Beach couple reached out to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on October 17, 2024, to report an incident involving fraud and grand theft.

Authorities reported that the pair engaged Powur BBC, Inc. for the endeavor in early April. During the months of May and June, the homeowners contributed a total of $24,519 to initiate the project.

A representative from the company, named Steven James Scott, visited the couple’s residence on July 8 as the solar project commenced, as reported by the sheriff’s office.

Scott informed the couple that he required $37,044 for the third payment and mentioned that if they “provided the requested payment in cash, the final payment” would be reduced, according to deputies.

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The homeowners handed over $37,044 in cash to Scott, as stated in the release. Witnesses reported to deputies that they heard him inform his employer over the phone that he had received the payment prior to departing from their residence.

On July 18, the couple was surprised to receive an invoice from Powur BBC that failed to show the $37,044 payment. According to deputies, the homeowners attempted to reach Scott, but their calls went unanswered.

The couple reached out to Powur BBC representatives and were informed that the company “does not accept cash payments, and they had not authorized Scott to collect any payment from them,” as stated in an arrest affidavit.

The sheriff’s office reported that following several discussions with Powur BBC and a law firm during the summer of 2024, the couple opted to reach out to law enforcement after learning that Scott was unreachable and had left the company.

In the same post, officials reported that a judge has issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme and grand theft, with a bond set at $40,000 and applicable for nationwide apprehension. Authorities are seeking assistance from the community to find Scott, whose most recent address was in Orlando.

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Scott was taken into custody on December 31 in Seminole County, although specifics regarding the arrest have not been disclosed.

Scott has now been moved to the Volusia County jail, where he is confronting charges of grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud, according to deputies.

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