Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/256534
After reviewing information provided by The Sarasota News Leader, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has begun an investigation into whether fraud was perpetrated upon people who rented the same Sabal Drive house on Siesta Key that remains the focus of county legal action over previous building code violations. Tw o p e o p l e h a v e contacted the News L e a d e r i n r e c e n t weeks to say they rented the house with the understanding that it had about twice as many bedrooms as they later discovered it contained and that they were unable to get refunds. L a t e l a s t s u m m e r, Sarasota chiropractor Dr. Craig Siegel — the purported owner of the house — hired a Bradenton firm to tear out construction in the lower level of the house to bring it back To a person standing on the street, the house at 6537 Sabal Drive appeared no different on Dec. 3 than it did more than four months earlier, when the downstairs still had multiple bedrooms. File photo PEOPLE WHO RENTED A SOUTH SIESTA KEY HOUSE THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF A COUNTY LAWSUIT SAY THE OWNER NEVER TOLD THEM HE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS FROM 12 TO FIVE FIRST, CODE VIOLATIONS; NOW RENTAL FRAUD Luckily I was able to find another property to accommodate all of us but it was $9,600!!! I am so sick about this. I don't know where to turn but I want to get the story out there. Sharon Thibodeau Michigan By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor NEWS & COMMENTARY