Inmate Scammed Homebuyers From Behind Bars Wednesday, January 30, 2008 -


TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced that a Polk County couple has received prison sentences for running a widespread real estate scam that defrauded victims out of more than $1 million.

Thomas “Sal” Salvati and his wife, Dawn, both previously pled no contest to criminal charges including organized fraud and conspiracy to commit racketeering, prosecuted by the Attorney Generals Office of Statewide Prosecution. Thomas Salvati was sentenced to 20 years of prison and Dawn Salvati was sentenced to three years. They must also pay restitution to their victims and will serve probationary terms.Thomas Salvati, 49, and Dawn Salvati, 36, both of Lakeland, were arrested in July 2006 after a lengthy investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The investigation revealed that while in prison for organized fraud, Thomas Salvati worked through his wife to form a corporation called Inves4us. The Salvatis then used this company to offer pre-foreclosure properties in which the Salvatis had no proprietary interest. They created fictitious purchase contracts for their victims to sign and then collected deposits totaling more than $1 million from the potential buyers. Upon the completion of their prison sentences, the Salvatis will be supervised by the Florida Department of Corrections Probation Office while they fulfill their restitution obligations to the many victims they defrauded. In addition to the prison sentences, Osceola County Circuit Court Judge Jon B. Morgan ordered both of the Salvatis to file semiannual financial affidavits with the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution while on probation so that their ability to make restitution and spending could be monitored and tracked. Judge Morgan also ordered that neither Salvati work in the real estate industry while on probation to prevent future abuses from occurring.