Former bowling alley property back on the market, owner on OPP's radar

Posted October 3, 2012

Less than a year after he purchased the Pins and Q's property on Victoria Street in Alliston for approximately $699,000 but not to operate it as a bowling alley, the building is back on the market for a listing price of $699,000.

John Frantzen, who, through a Collingwood based numbered company purchased the property back in January through a multi-layered mortgage deal, said this morning via email that "Yes I still own it. It has been renovated and now for sale."

In August, Free Press Online reported that some of the contractors who were hired to undertake the renovations had spent months chasing him for payments. At this post, at least one contractor involved is still owed money.

"I email him weekly, with no response," according to the owner of Young Pro Painters in Barrie. "At one point a month or so ago he said he would pay me $900 of the bill and said he would call or email with when I could meet him. That call or email never occurred and I haven't gotten a response from him since then."

Another contractor, who ended up settling for a smaller amount on his outstanding invoice, had posted a "beware" of "John Frantzen" message to other contractors, warning them, on the free classified ad site, Kijiji, which has since been removed.

There have been complaints from others across the province who apparently feel they were victimized by Mr. Frantzen on other real estate deals and monetary transactions. Enough of them in fact, and reportedly for sums of money large enough to have generated the interest of the OPP's anti-rackets squad.

In a June 5, 2012 letter, obtained by Free Press Online, addressed "To the victims of John Frantzen," Ian Roberts Detective Constable, Anti-Rackets Branch Ottawa, notes "This letter is to simply let everyone know that the investigation is still on-going."

None of the allegations have been proven in court nor at this post were any charges laid or deemed to have be warranted. The details of alleged fraudulent activities are also not included.

"I do anticipate that within the next month I will be in contact with you to schedule an interview. It will be determined after reviewing the interviews and documents obtained, that I will be able to make a decision on what best evidence I can use to move this investigation forward," according to the Anti-Rackets squad letter. "I do know that each of you have been victimized, and would like to know how the investigation is progressing..... As you know, once I have been able to determine if criminal charges will be laid it will be taken to a Crown Attorney for review. Unfortunately, I cannot predict how long this criminal investigation will take, but please be patient as fraud investigations are usually long and somewhat arduous."

At this post, Free Press Online was trying to determine the status of the investigation. More updates as information becomes available and confirmed.

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