MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A man accused of scamming engaged couples out of hundreds of thousands of dollars at a Texas wedding venue has been arrested in Travis County, officials confirmed.
Carl John Butcho II was taken into custody and booked into the Travis County Jail. He faces a charge of Theft of Property valued between $150,000 and $300,000 after allegedly posing as the owner and manager of the Charleston Lane Wedding Venue in Willis, Texas, under the fake name “Lance Miller.”
Montgomery County officials say Butcho orchestrated a scheme where he misrepresented himself to couples preparing for their weddings, collecting large payments for services that were never fulfilled.
Butcho was arrested with the help of Austin Police and Montgomery County detectives. His bond has been set at $100,000.
According to authorities, additional fraud charges are pending against Butcho in Travis County as well.
The case gained attention in March when FOX 26 reported on a Houston bride who lost more than $50,000 after arriving at the venue the day before her wedding to find it locked. That report prompted the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to launch a formal investigation.
In follow-up stories, more victims came forward, recounting similar experiences—locked venues, unreturned calls, and bounced refund checks.
Authorities are continuing to investigate and have urged any other victims to contact law enforcement.
