A former Marco Island business owner is in the news again for allegations of fraud, this time in neighboring Lee County.
During the time that Carrie Haire lived on Marco Island, she briefly operated a small storefront known as “Summer Cottage” in the Shops of Olde Marco. Soon after her shop closed, customer complaints began to surface. It was alleged that Haire had taken deposits for work that was never completed. Attempts to reach her by phone were unsuccessful, and messages were left unanswered.
Public documents show that around this time, in 2011, Haire registered a business named Summersalt Beach House LLC. That limited liability company was subsequently dissolved in 2012 by the Florida Division of Corporations for failure to file an annual report. Haire’s business Farm Fresh Cottage, LLC was similarly registered in 2012, then administratively dissolved the following year for failure to file an annual report. Both businesses listed an address located on Royal Palm Drive on Marco Island.
Carrie Haire moved to Lee County, where she remarried twice and was known by the name Carrie Heminger. In addition to the names Carrie Lee Heminger and Carrie Leigh Heminger, Carrie has also been known under the following aliases: Carrie Leigh Haire, Carrie Wheeler and Carrie Leah Kellam.
In 2016, Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Carrie Lee Heminger for Failure to Appear for a Misdemeanor Offense (Petit Theft Third Degree). According to the December 29, 2016, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Probable Cause Statement, “Heminger was placed under arrest and transported to the Lee County Jail for processing.”
Carrie Heminger was recently arrested in Poneto, Indiana. Newspaper reports dated April 7th claim she is charged with “engaging in contracting without a license” and a Scheme to Defraud of $50,000 or more as well as Grand Theft of $100,000 or more, citing six victims in Lee County.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Carrie Heminger was incarcerated in Lee County on April 22, 2022, on a felony warrant for attempted Fraud/Swindle to Obtain Property of $50,000 or more. According to Lee County Court Records for the State of Florida vs. Carrie Leigh Heminger, Case No. 21-CF-001562 , Heminger posted a $30,000 bond on April 23, 2022, and bonded out. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 2, 2022 at 8:30 AM before Judge Margaret O. Steinbeck.
Coastal Breeze News will provide updates to this story as they become available.
