UPDATE MAY 25: Tavaris Sam went to court Thursday for Carrie Neff's preliminary hearing.
Sam said her court-appointed attorney said she pleads guilty and will pay restitution.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A valley family said they lost thousands of dollars and most of their possessions after falling victim to a rental scam.
Tavaris Sam posted on Craigslist, looking for a house for his family. He got a message about a mobile home available for rent, so they signed the lease and moved in with all their belongings.
"Two weeks later I come home and we come home to an empty house," he said. "There's nothing, everything completely wiped out."
When he went to the management office for an explanation, they told him he was squatting.
"They're (management) pretending I'm having, I had a fake lease," said Sam.
Sam said he was told their stuff was all in storage, but eventually management admitted it was in the dumpster.
"They hurt my kids because they destroyed all their Easter," Sam said. "Not only did they throw it in the dumpster, they demolished everything before they put it in the dumpster."
He said they put furniture, a TV, and even his daughter's urn in the dumpster. By the time all was said and done, the family said they could only get about a quarter of their stuff back.
"It really hurt; my kids was crying," said Sam.
Sam said his family lost thousand in damaged property and money they paid a woman named Carrie Neff to move in.
"It means a lot because that was money we was saving to actually get a home," said Sam.
He reported Neff to the police, and Neff is currently in jail charged with theft.
13 Action News called the on-site property management company, El Adobe, to find out if they have ties to Neff. They did not answer or return our calls.
Sam and his family are trying to save up for a new home, starting back at zero. He, his pregnant girlfriend, and their four kids are forced to stay with a friend.
"It's just a crazy situation like how somebody can do another human that way," Sam said.
He plans to be in court Thursday to testify against Neff.
