CEDAR CITY, UTAH — Blake Floyd Cozzens, a property manager from Cedar City, Utah, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud on March 24, admitting that he embezzled significant amounts of money from homeowners’ associations (HOAs), property owners, tenants, and casinos. Cozzens, 35, is set to be sentenced on June 11.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, Cozzens served as a property manager for multiple HOAs and property owners in Iron County, Utah, from January 2020 to January 2025. During this time, he diverted funds that had been entrusted to him for personal use, effectively embezzling at least $772,966 from the HOAs, property owners, tenants, and a California-based company.
Court documents reveal that Cozzens manipulated an online application used to manage the properties, submitting fraudulent deposits. The company that owned the application reported a loss of $210,000 due to his actions.
Further investigation also linked Cozzens to fraudulent activity involving Las Vegas casinos. Cozzens presented seven cashier’s checks totaling $1.4 million in exchange for gambling markers. Afterward, he falsely reported the checks as lost, causing the bank to stop payment to the casinos. As a result, the bank suffered a financial loss of $1.4 million.
Cozzens now faces serious criminal charges for his embezzlement and fraudulent activities. The case is a stark reminder of the financial risks posed by individuals entrusted with managing large sums of money.
