Denver man accused of bilking Larimer County resident out of $153,500

A Denver man is accused of bilking a Larimer County resident out of $153,500 in a scam that the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office believes may have other victims.

The sheriff’s office announced Monday the June 30 arrest of William “Billy” Harris, 67, of Denver on a felony theft charge.

Investigators began looking into Harris after a man reported to them in June that Harris claimed he had inherited millions of dollars from a wealthy family member but needed help paying the taxes before the funds could be released, according to information from the sheriff’s office. He said that a family friend had introduced him to Harris.

The man told investigators that, over six months, Harris had asked him to withdraw and deliver cash to various locations around Larimer County and Denver, saying this was necessary to “unlock the alleged inheritance,” according to the release.

The man became suspicious in June, began searching Harris online and called the sheriff’s office. Investigators determined that he had been scammed out of $153,500.

Harris was being held in the Larimer County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond and is due in 8th Judicial District Court in Fort Collins on Tuesday morning on the single felony count.

However, according to the sheriff’s office, the investigation is continuing and investigators believe that Harris may have scammed other victims in Larimer County, as well as in other communities in the region.

Anyone with information, or who may also be a victim, is asked to call Investigator Bryce Hinrichs at 970-498-5542. Anonymous information can be sent to Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.