BACKYARD IS A BLANK CANVAS: Northern Michigan Estate Sale Swindlers, Brian & Virginia Ackerman, Bought $435,000 Nevada Home On Golf Course Weeks Before Fleecing Peninsula Township Woman — Out Of $2,600!

Back in March, I reported on this blog that Brian Ackerman and his wife, Virginia (Ginger) had “vanished” after fleecing a Peninsula Township woman out of thousands dollars after an estate sale last September, and police struggled to locate them.

Well, thanks to a juicy heads-up from a reader, I have learned the Ackermans didn't really “vanish”— they moved.

By moved, I mean to a $435,000 Henderson, Nevada, home the duo purchased on June 4, 2018.

The home purchase clears up this previously mysterious entry from Brian Ackerman's register of actions from the Grand Traverse County 86th District Court case: “defendant may travel to Nevada for business purpose only”.

According to 86th District Court records, and confirmed by VINELink, Ackerman was arraigned May 29, 2019 on one count of larceny by conversion under $20,000 relating to the alleged Old Mission estate sale swindle.

Given his Miranda warning that day, Ackerman was later released on a $75,000 personal recognizance bond.

But, despite an initial stink in local Traverse City media about the “runaway Ackermans”, there was no coverage when the case against them was quietly dismissed after Brian Ackerman made full restitution on July 2, 2019.

I can hear you asking the obvious: if the Ackermans could plunk down $435,000 for a new Nevada home, why couldn't they pay a mere $2,600 debt to a client of their estate sale business?

To paraphrase the late, great George Carlin, the same reason a dog licks his balls.

Because he can.

Or, in the case of the Ackermans...they!