Kevin Hart’s personal shopper was indicted by the Queens County Grand Jury for theft, among other charges, for allegedly using the comedian’s credit card to defraud him by more than $ 1 million. Dylan Jason Syer faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
“Nobody is immune to being targeted by fraudsters,” Queens District Attorney Katz, Melinda, said on Wednesday. “This defendant, who owned a personal shopper business, used legitimate purchases to gain access and then allegedly continued to charge astronomical amounts of money on the actor’s credit cards.”
Syer, a 29-year-old man from Long Island City, NY, made unauthorized charges and purchases using Hart credit cards from October 12, 2017 to February 25, 2019, according to the prosecution.
In total, Syer reportedly charged about $ 923,000 on Hart’s credit cards, in addition to $ 240,000 on jewelry and watches purchased from a sophisticated jewelry store in California. Syer also bought thousands of dollars worth of fine art and other collectibles, including five Patek Phillipe watches valued at more than $ 400,000. He also bought a painting by Sam Friedman, at least 16 collectible Bearbrick dolls, 5 KAWS collectible dolls and two Louis Vuitton Keepall Bandouliere bags, all of which he presented on his Instagram page.
Prosecuted before Queens Supreme Court judge John Latella on a 10-count charge, Syer was charged with first and second degree theft, criminal possession of first and second degree property, first degree identity theft and scheme defrauding in the first degree.
Syer met the actor-comedian in 2015, through his personal shopping business, Sire Consulting, LLC, through which he was hired to obtain various items for the actor, according to the prosecution. With the partnership, Syer acquired Hart’s credit cards on the premise that he would only make authorized purchases.
In addition to pursuing criminal charges, the prosecutor will also file an asset confiscation action against Syer in a civil court. Katz said: “I want to send a strong message to the defendant and other people seeking financial gain through victimizing others, that my team and I are committed to aggressively pursuing these actions and separating those who commit crimes from their illicit earnings, and returning these funds, where possible, to support victims. “
After Syer was arrested, investigators executed a search and seizure warrant authorized by the court, where the police seized approximately $ 250,000 in cash and goods.
Syer is due to return to court on February 17.