Conroe, TX – A Texas man accused of orchestrating an elaborate wedding venue scam allegedly defrauded multiple couples out of more than $200,000, authorities said.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, detectives working with the Austin Police Department arrested Carl John Butcho II on Thursday on a warrant connected to a major theft investigation in Montgomery County. Butcho is charged with Theft of Property valued between $150,000 and $300,000, a second-degree felony.
Investigators said Butcho operated under the alias “Lance Miller,” posing as the owner and manager of Charleston Lane Wedding Venue in Willis, Texas. Twelve victims reported paying for weddings that allegedly never took place, totaling $202,424.90 in losses. An additional five victims said they did not receive promised refunds for various issues, adding $11,450 in losses.
Butcho was booked into the Travis County Jail on a $100,000 bond with conditions including GPS monitoring, no contact with victims, surrendering his passport, and a prohibition on participating in wedding or event planning businesses.
In addition to the Montgomery County charge, Butcho faces separate charges in Travis County, including False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit and Fraudulent Securing of Document Execution.
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle credited the arrest to “the dedication of our investigators and the cooperation between agencies,” saying the victims “placed their trust in someone who exploited their special day for personal gain.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information or who believes they may have been affected to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-538-8393, referencing case number 25A151828.
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