A Hawaiian vacation ended in handcuffs for an Orlando man this week after prosecutors say he scammed an investor out of $1 million using a flashy but fictional project called “Orlando World Live.” Steven Harry Minard, 57, was arrested in Honolulu as he tried to board a flight to Houston and is now waiting to be sent back to Florida to face charges tied to the alleged scheme.
State prosecutors say investor was duped
In a release from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General James Uthmeier’s team says Minard convinced a high-profile investor to put up $1,000,000 by pitching a non-existent, multi-billion-dollar entertainment and development project called Orlando World Live, or OWL. Investigators say Minard touted supposed celebrity partnerships and projected revenues of more than $1.6 billion, yet they found no city permits, contracts, or other paperwork that would support a real downtown buildout.
According to the release, forensic financial analysis and witness interviews indicate the investor’s money was allegedly siphoned off to cover Minard’s unrelated business debts and personal expenses instead of any actual development work.
ClickOrlando reports that officers tracked Minard to Honolulu and arrested him as he attempted to board a flight back to Houston. He is currently in the custody of the Honolulu Police Department’s extradition detail while Florida moves to bring him back. The arrest capped a multi-agency investigation involving the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, Homeland Security Investigations’ New York El Dorado Task Force, HSI Orlando, HSI Honolulu, and the Honolulu Police Department. Officials have not said whether any charges were filed in Hawaii during the detention process.
Charges and next steps
According to state prosecutors, Minard faces felony counts that include one count of Scheme to Defraud over $50,000 and one count of Sale of an Unregistered Security, as outlined in the Attorney General’s release. The case is set to be handled by Special Counsel Robert Finkbeiner in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Authorities say they will pursue extradition so Minard can return to Florida and face the charges. If he is brought back, he will be arraigned, and prosecutors will present the court with evidence that they say links the investor’s funds to the alleged misappropriation.
Paper trail and corporate filings
Public records show Minard is tied to entities using the Orlando World Live name. He is listed as manager and registered agent for Orlando World Live LLC and the Orlando World Live Foundation, Inc., both at a downtown Orlando address, according to the Florida Division of Corporations. Investigators say those filings sit in sharp contrast to the absence of operational plans, permits, or contracts filed with the city that would support the project’s glossy pitch.
Prosecutors and regulators are expected to lean on these corporate records as they map out how the investor’s money allegedly moved and where it ultimately landed.
Why it matters
Authorities say the case is a textbook reminder to slow down and verify before sending large sums to a private deal that sounds too good to pass up. They urge potential investors to demand independent documentation, check registration status, and confirm that projects have real-world backing such as permits and contracts, not just slick proposals.
The Attorney General’s office and financial regulators are asking anyone who has information about Orlando World Live or related investment pitches to reach out to law enforcement. For now, Minard remains in Honolulu custody while Florida officials press ahead with their extradition request and prepare their prosecution.
