Man Known as the 'Wedding Scammer' Charged After Being Accused of Defrauding Unsuspecting Clients Out of More Than $200K By Gabrielle Rockson

A man has been charged after allegedly defrauding multiple couples who were planning to get married in Texas.

On Friday, Aug. 15, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a press release that Carl John Butcho II had been arrested the day prior “on a warrant related to a major theft case investigated that occurred in Montgomery County.”

The man, who is also known as the “Wedding Scammer,” according to Fox 26 Houston, has been charged with Theft of Property valued between $150,000 and $300,000.

“Butcho’s arrest is the result of an extensive investigation into fraudulent activities conducted under the alias ‘Lance Miller,’ in which he posed as the owner and manager of the Charleston Lane Wedding Venue located in Willis, TX,” authorities alleged.

Charleston Lane is listed as permanently closed online; the company’s website has also been removed.

PEOPLE reached out to the email listed on the company’s Facebook page, however, the address came back as “not found.”

The wedding venue’s last post on Facebook was in November 2024; their last post on Instagram was in February.

Butcho was allegedly paid $202,424.90 for the weddings of 12 people, despite the ceremonies never taking place, according to authorities.

“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,” officials claimed. 

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Butcho was taken to Travis County Jail and given a $100,000 bond. 

The conditions of his bond include: “No contact with victims; GPS monitoring prior to release; Surrender of his passport before release; Prohibition from engaging in wedding or event planning businesses.”

His faces additional charges in Travis County, including False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit and Fraudulent Securing of Document Execution.

“This arrest is a testament to the dedication of our investigators and the cooperation between agencies,” Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said in a statement. “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.”

Concluding their statement, officials thanked the public for their help in the investigation.

Anyone who has more information or “believes they may have been affected by this case” is advised to contact authorities at 936-538-8393 and reference case number 25A151828.