Two Volusia County realtors have been criminally charged in what the Volusia Sheriff’s Office is describing as a scheme to defraud an ailing Ormond Beach couple out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jason Valiant and Constance Kellner were implicated in the plot, which continued even after one of the victims’ death.
According to the VSO, the couple chose Valiant as their realtor as both of their health began to decline. Records show his license was revoked in 2018. Three properties were placed under Valiant’s control, the report says, as well as their bank accounts. Valiant is said to have signed a do-not-resuscitate order on one of the couple, who died after being removed from life support the following day.
Valiant was reportedly able to make such an important decision after he forged documents naming him the couple’s health care surrogate, as well as awarding him power of attorney. With this authority, Valiant allegedly transferred all three homes to himself by will, as well as a substantial portion of the couple’s savings. He’s said to have taken their pickup truck for personal use and used their credit cards to pay for attorney’s fees, dental procedures, a car detail, dinner and drinks, and gasoline.
A second realtor became involved when Valiant allegedly spoke with Constance Kellner about converting two of the properties into condominiums or a hotel. He even reportedly made a lowball offer from his own company to purchase some of the assets, not making any effort to sell it on the open market.
Valiant was arrested on charges of organized scheme to defraud, exploitation of the elderly/disabled, grand theft exceeding $100,000, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and illegal credit card usage. His bond was set at $375,000.
As the two properties that Valiant and Kellner reportedly conspired about are located in Flagler Beach, Kellner was arrested by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on two counts of being an accessory to Valiant’s crimes. She’s said to have known what Valiant was up to, and willfully helped him execute the scheme. Her bond was set at $100,000.
“[The couple] chose a wolf in sheep’s clothing who saw an opportunity to make himself rich,” said Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “My hope is he spends the holidays in a cell for what he did to two people at their most vulnerable.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
