It was supposed to be Nicole and Jason Cowens\u2019 dream home, but it turned into an absolute nightmare. <\/p>\n
The Cowens moved from New Jersey to Western Pennsylvania to give their family a better life, good schools for their kids and a big yard to play in. They tell 11 Investigates Amy Hudak the minute they put down a deposit, something felt off. And Channel 11 has since learned, they\u2019re not the only ones. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want property, we want our kids to explore and have fun,\u201d Jason Cowens said. \u201cIt\u2019s big enough for our family and it just fits,\u201d Nicole Cowens added. <\/p>\n
So, 1856 Pleasant Grove Road was a charming rent-to-own home on 20 acres in Claysville. Rick Hodge is the homeowner. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe took us around on a side-by-side to see the whole property,\u201d Nicole Cowens remembers. \u201cI said this is perfect.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hodge said they needed to go through his realtor, Mario Garcia. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere were some questionable things,\u201d Nicole Cowens tells 11 Investigates. \u201cI was like, maybe it\u2019s just me overthinking it. I\u2019ve never done this before. It\u2019s a whole new state.\u201d <\/p>\n
11 Investigates asked if she had ever seen Mario Garcia at this point. <\/p>\n
\u201cNever met him, but he was the \u2018realtor,\u2019\u201d Nicole added. <\/p>\n
When it came time to put down a deposit, the Cowens said the pressure was off the charts. <\/p>\n
\u201cSend the money, send the money, send the money,\u201d Nicole recalls. \u201cHe said, \u2018go to Walmart. Do a Walmart to Walmart, like a Western Union type of transfer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cowens said a woman in line, who happened to be a realtor, told them that it didn\u2019t seem right and to verify before sending anything. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe call Rick – \u2018yeah send it to Mario,\u2019 Mario sends him through text a copy of his license, Nicole recalls. \u2018Here\u2019s my ID, here\u2019s where you are going to send it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The money was wired; the contract was signed. They packed up and left their life in N.J. behind. <\/p>\n
\u201cTrucks are loaded, we\u2019re on our way, we\u2019re excited,\u201d the Cowens tell 11 Investigate. \u201cRick goes \u2018The key is under the doormat.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Six hours and 400 miles later, the Cowens pull up to their new home. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe show up, there\u2019s no Rick, no key,\u201d Nicole adds. <\/p>\n
The Cowens say that around 10 p.m., Hodge showed up and said he didn\u2019t get any money. <\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018I shouldn\u2019t let you in, I didn\u2019t get any money,\u2019\u201d the Cowens recall Hodge telling them. \u201cI said that\u2019s between you and your realtor,\u201d Jason added. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was telling him you should call the police,\u201d Nicole added. \u201cThere is something that\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cowens say Hodge threatened eviction immediately, and more red flags went up. <\/p>\n
\u201cI go on Google, type in \u2018Mario Garcia Home Partners,\u2019 just that, and oh my,\u201d Nicole tells 11 Investigates. \u201cMario Garcia scam, BBB, all these companies, fake names.\u201d <\/p>\n
In an online group, the Cowens found the Rapps. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was like a needle in a haystack,\u201d Jamie Rapp tells 11 Investigates. <\/p>\n
Before the Cowens tried to buy 1856 Pleasant Grove Road, the Rapps\u2019 adult son with disabilities tried to buy the same house from Richard Hodge and Mario Garcia. The Rapps say he put down every dollar he saved pending inspection. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe home inspector sends us the report,\u201d Jamie Rapps tells 11 Investigates. \u201cThe sewer wasn\u2019t good, the water in the well was contaminated and wasn\u2019t getting enough flow, and there were some other problems within the house.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Rapps asked for their deposit back with no success. They hired a lawyer who tried to serve Hodge and Garcia, but the letters were undeliverable. <\/p>\n
The Rapps\u2019 son never got back his $15,000, but they did share a 24-page inspection report with the Cowens and 11 Investigates. The Cowens say it wasn\u2019t disclosed to them, which is illegal. That inspection report documented a failing roof, dangerous ceilings, bad electrical wiring, missing parts for the hot water heater and gas line and cracks in the foundation. <\/p>\n
Then there is the yard the Cowens wanted so badly for their kids. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s all human feces and gray water,\u201d Cowens showed 11 Investigates. <\/p>\n
Their lease states they are only responsible for fixes that are $500 or less. <\/p>\n
11 Investigates tracked down Richard Hodge. We asked him about Mario Garcia. <\/p>\n
\u201cMario Garcia – great question,\u201d Hodge tells Channel 11. \u201cSome dude that presented himself as some big, fancy company that works with real estate agents. Turns out he was a scam too. Supposedly, the FBI is after him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rapps say he claimed Mario Garcia scammed him, too. But that was before the Cowens. <\/p>\n
\u201cHow is it that he\u2019s done this twice but still claiming to be the victim as well?\u201d the Rapps tell 11 Investigates. \u201cIf you were the victim, the first time this happened, you wouldn\u2019t keep doing business with him and tell people to send money to the same bank account.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hodge maintains he\u2019s done nothing wrong, and the Cowens are stealing from him by not securing a mortgage. They\u2019ve gone through court to battle it out. A judge has determined the Cowens have until May of 2026 to get approved for a mortgage or the eviction process will begin. <\/p>\n
The Cowens and Rapps say they reached out to 11 Investigates, so nobody else loses their money on a rent to own contract. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere is going to be someone else after me who is going to be scammed,\u201d Nicole Cowens said. \u201cSomebody has to be the one to stand here and fight this battle.\u201d<\/p>\n
11 Investigates tried to track down Mario Garcia with no luck. <\/p>\n
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