Marion County Man Arrested in Bizarre Cast Scheme
A Marion County man is facing charges of common law cheating after an elaborate scheme involving fake orthopedic trials and a very real cast.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Jean Carlos Nieves convinced a local woman he worked for a nonexistent medical company called “Express Orthopedic” and was affiliated with the Orthopedic Institute of Ocala. The pitch? The woman could earn $260 per day, tax-free, by wearing a cast on her leg for eight weeks and sending daily videos and photos.
The victim, who had initially advertised a steering wheel cover for sale on Facebook Marketplace, agreed to the odd proposition after Nieves presented what appeared to be an official contract. Once the cast was in place, the arrangement took an unsettling turn. Nieves allegedly began sending flirtatious messages, prompting the victim to cut contact. Shortly thereafter, he reportedly showed up uninvited at her residence in the middle of the night.
When suspicions arose, the victim contacted the Orthopedic Institute and discovered Nieves was not an employee, nor did any such “cast trial” exist. Despite repeated demands, Nieves refused to remove the cast or pay the promised compensation.
Investigators identified Nieves, who initially gave the alias “Jean Bruno,” and linked him to a similar case involving another woman. Surveillance footage and victim-provided evidence, including text messages and video recordings, were key in piecing together the scheme.
Deputies allege Nieves used the fake trial as a ruse to gain physical contact with victims and collect photos and videos under false pretenses.
If you’re considering any medical trial that involves strangers and unsolicited contracts, let this serve as your PSA: steer clear—or you might find yourself cast in the role of victim.
