Man who burned through $400,000 inheritance allegedly rips off mother and stepfather

A man who burned through a $400,000 inheritance has been arrested for allegedly stealing valuables, including guns and jewelry, from his stepfather and mother.

Chase Allen Strong, 31, was arrested on charges of burglary, theft and drug possession after being stopped on an e-bicycle, stolen from his stepfather, on Sunday afternoon. Strong had previously been arrested in 2022 when a toxic relationship with a woman got out of control. 

Strong allegedly stole items from the Weirsdale home of his mother ad stepfather, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

The deputy was told that Strong was highly intelligent but had been addicted to drugs and gambling in the past. Strong burned through his $400,000 inheritance in about six months, and he recently became homeless. He moved in with his stepfather and biological mother about a month ago and was only going to stay a few days, but he began staying longer due to not having an income and going through all his money, the report said. 

One day, the stepfather realized all 12 of his guns were gone and suspected that Strong had stolen them. He and his wife began checking the residence and realized that numerous items of her jewelry, his guns, fishing equipment, a cross bow and accessories were all stolen, the report said. 

The pair confronted Strong, and he admitted to taking items and pawning them or selling them outright to other individuals. He promised to get the items back in a bid to avoid prosecution. He also admitted to stealing items over text with his stepfather, which were screenshotted as evidence. Pictures of the many stolen items were handed over as evidence, too, the report said. 

At that point, Strong was told that he was no longer allowed to stay at the residence, on or about April 10. They changed the locks that day so Strong could no longer access the property. Strong had been stringing the victims along with promises to get their belongings back from that point, the report said. 

On Saturday morning, the stepfather went to help Strong with his broken-down Tesla, which was parked near the 7-Eleven gas station at the end of Eagles Nest Road in Fruitland Park. Strong kept communicating back and forth with his stepfather but never showed so that his stepfather could help charge his vehicle, the report said. 

When the stepfather returned home, he realized that his $5,000 Quiet Kat Ranger camouflage bicycle and charger was missing. He knew it was Strong since there was a gate code to get into the neighborhood, a gate code to get onto the property and another code to get into the garage door, which the victims never changed, the report said. 

The stepfather then realized that the bicycle was taken during the night when both he and his wife were at the house. The report noted that in the text messages between Strong and his stepfather, not only did he admit guilt, but he was also afraid of going to jail. He further talked about leaving the state for some time because if he was going to be accused of being a criminal, he would then act like one. 

On Sunday afternoon, deputies were tipped of by a Fruitland Park officer that Strong was riding the stolen e-bicycle south on U.S. Hwy. 441. Officers conducted a traffic stop and secured him due to the deputy advising them that he had probable cause for arrest, the report said. 

The deputy then met with Strong and read him his rights, to which he agreed that he understood and was willing to talk. When asked about the e-bicycle, he admitted that he took it the day before from the victims’ residence without permission while they were home sleeping, the report said. 

The deputy next asked about the fishing rods and reels, and Strong admitted to taking them as well before claiming they were his deceased father’s items. He also agreed that he would try to return them even though he claimed possession. When asked about the stolen jewelry, he advised that he did take one Tiffany bracelet but that was all he would admit to, the report said. 

Strong was subsequently placed in a patrol vehicle. Upon searching his backpack, the deputy found a glass smoking pipe with white crystal substance, one digital scale with white residue and one ballistic panel from a bullet proof vest. Further searching revealed 219 Modafinil 200mg tablets in blister packets. Also found was a white piece of notebook paper, folded up with white powder residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, the report said. 

When Strong was asked about the pills, he stated that he used to have a prescription, but he now ordered them online from a company out of India, the report said. 

The stepfather was contacted and came to retrieve his e-bicycle and charger. He also got two rifle gun mounts. The case remained open due to numerous items still missing and some that are in unknown pawn shops, the report said. 

Strong was charged with burglary of an occupied residence, grand theft (over $20,000), possession of bulletproof vest while committing a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a schedule 4 drug without a prescription (Modafinil) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $8,500.