A wellness influencer is accused of defrauding two prominent real estate investors of over $2.3 million during a tumultuous three-year period.
As per a report from the Las Vegas Metro Police, Bobby Vargas, 46, was taken into custody after it was revealed that he had made $450,000 in purchases on Amazon between April 2021 and March 2024 using five credit cards belonging to Grant and Elena Cardone. The document was obtained by KLAS.
Vargas, whose real name is Bobbi Awad, allegedly funneled nearly $2 million taken from the couple’s credit cards into his PayPal account to support his Bodel Wellness Brand.
Police noted that the series of financial transactions suggested that AWAD used a front company, Bodella LLC, to launder the stolen funds.
The court documentation revealed that Vargas, who has more than 202,000 followers on Instagram, utilized the stolen money to make around 7,400 online purchases—everything from a brick pizza oven to an 83-inch television and a dual-range gas stove.
Additionally, this lifestyle entrepreneur supposedly spent $169,000 on designer goods, and 147 transactions totaling about $800,000 were made for his business and staff.
The expenditures included hiring personal shoppers, housekeepers, electricians, and contractors, as well as shopping at places like ceramic barns and on eBay.
Another victim, flagged only as a “friend,” claimed that Vargas had attempted to repay a $100,000 loan by stuffing fake currency into a shoebox, according to reports.
Following this, a detective reached out to Propmoney.com, uncovering that Vargas had acquired $103,000 in various fake currency denominations.
The investigation began over a year ago after American Express alerted Elena Cardone about dubious charges. Reportedly, she had flagged suspicious transactions, including 10 Amazon gift cards sent to Vargas.
Vargas faces 19 felony charges, including six counts of theft over $100,000, four counts of attempted money laundering, and one count of theft involving obtaining a credit or debit card without permission.
After his court appearance in Las Vegas, Vargas was released but issued a stern warning from Judge Eric Goodman.
“The next issue I have with you will be your last,” the judge cautioned, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Vargas took to Instagram later that night, suggesting that “the story always has two sides.”
If found guilty, he could face over 20 years in prison.
