A Virginia homeowner allowed a prospective buyer to take possession of house keys, install surveillance cameras, and begin renovations before the property sale had closed.
The arrangement unraveled when a bank identified the buyer’s separate $22,000 check for a lawn mower and other belongings as fraudulent.
Investigators also learned that a wire transfer connected to the home purchase had been declined.
Caroline County deputies later arrested 45-year-old Shavon Tyvell Boyd at Richmond International Airport as he was preparing to board a flight. He faces a felony charge of issuing bad checks.
The Pending Home Sale Created an Opening
The investigation began July 17, 2026, when a resident in the Lake Land’Or subdivision reported a fraudulent check, according to WRIC. The homeowner was preparing to sell the property to a prospective buyer known as “Ty Boyd.”
While the parties waited for the scheduled closing, the buyer offered to purchase a lawn mower and other personal belongings from the seller.
Boyd allegedly presented a check for $22,000, which the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office described as a generous amount for the items involved. The seller accepted the check while continuing to believe the larger real estate transaction was moving toward completion.
Deputies Say Personal Stories Helped Build Trust
The homeowner told investigators that Boyd said he had been adopted and wanted to help pay for the seller’s efforts to adopt a child. He also allegedly claimed that he was undergoing cancer treatment and wanted to help other people while facing an uncertain future.
The financial problems surfaced when the homeowner attempted to deposit the $22,000 check. Bank employees immediately identified it as fraudulent, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies also learned that a wire transfer associated with the planned home purchase had been declined.
Deputies Recovered Documents Bearing Different Names
Investigators obtained an Indiana driver’s license, vehicle-registration records, real estate settlement paperwork, signed addendums, and forms used to secure vehicle access to the gated Lake Land’Or community.
Deputies initially struggled to verify the prospective buyer’s identity and determined that he had allegedly been using multiple names. After several days of investigation, authorities identified him as Shavon Tyvell Boyd of Richmond. The sheriff’s office said he may also have conducted business under names including “Tye,” “Ty Boyd,” and “Shy.”
A Second Report Sent Deputies to the Airport
On July 21, another person contacted the sheriff’s office and reported that they had also been victimized. That person told deputies that Boyd was preparing to leave the area on a flight from Richmond International Airport.
While a Caroline County deputy worked to obtain an arrest warrant, another investigator coordinated with airport police. Officers located Boyd and arrested him after the warrant was issued, just before he entered the airplane, according to the sheriff’s office.
Boyd was charged with felony issuing bad checks and was being held without bond at Pamunkey Regional Jail. Investigators said they had identified additional potential victims and expected further charges as they reviewed financial records, communications, documents, and transactions involving other home sellers.
Anyone who conducted business with Boyd under his name or the aliases “Tye,” “Ty Boyd,” or “Shy” can contact the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office at 804-633-5400 or Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
Keys Should Wait Until Closing Funds Are Confirmed
Before providing early access, a seller can ask the settlement agent, closing attorney, or title company whether the purchase funds have actually been received and whether ownership has legally transferred.
A message from the buyer saying that a wire was sent is not confirmation that the settlement account received it. The Federal Trade Commission warns that deposited funds may appear in an account before a bank discovers that a check is fake.
Sellers should keep the original check, messages, purchase agreements, settlement paperwork, wire information, and records showing when access or keys were provided. Those documents can help the bank, closing agent, and investigators reconstruct the transaction if the payment fails.