MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – A man who is accused of posing as the owner and manager of a wedding venue in Willis and then defrauding victims out of more than $200,000 has been arrested.
Carl John Butcho II was taken into custody in Travis County on a charge of theft of property valued between $150,000 and $300,000. He also faces two other charges in Travis County.
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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the arrest comes following the investigation of a major theft case.
Butcho is accused of using the alias “Lance Miller” to pose as the owner and manager of the Charleston Lane Wedding Venue.
Investigators say 12 victims reported paying for weddings that never occurred, resulting in a combined loss of $202,424.90. An additional five victims who did have weddings at the venue reported not receiving promised refunds for various issues, adding $11,450.00 in losses.
Butcho was booked into the Travis County Jail and given a $100,000 bond. He has multiple bond conditions including:
- No contact with victims
- GPS monitoring prior to release
- Surrender of his passport before release
- Prohibition from engaging in wedding or event planning businesses
“This arrest is a testament to the dedication of our investigators and the cooperation between agencies. These victims placed their trust in someone who exploited their special day for personal gain, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served. Our office will continue to pursue those who prey on others in our community,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been affected by this case is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-538-8393 and reference case number 25A151828