A coin dealer operating at a Bradenton flea market has been arrested for allegedly scamming customers out of nearly $300,000.
Seth Felipe Lutz, 63, faces multiple grand theft charges after customers at the Red Barn Flea Market reported paying thousands of dollars for gold and silver items that were never delivered. According to court records from Manatee County, at least three customers in 2024 claim to have been defrauded by Lutz, losing nearly $65,000 combined.
This isn’t Lutz’s first brush with the law. Prior to this incident, he served time in prison in Pinellas County for similar offenses. Investigators say Lutz defrauded dozens of coin buyers out of more than $220,000 over a five-year period.
The most recent criminal charges stem from an incident in May 2024, when a customer paid nearly $1,000 for three silver bars that Lutz promised to deliver. Despite previous successful transactions, the customer received no goods after weeks of communication. Lutz allegedly told the buyer that the items were never in stock and refused to issue a refund.
An attorney representing Lutz has not responded to inquiries for comment. Lutz’s son, who was listed on the business card, reportedly told a customer that his father was imprisoned on grand theft charges.
This ongoing investigation highlights Lutz’s history of fraudulent behavior and raises concerns about the reliability of his business practices at the Red Barn Flea Market.
