Detectives dig into complaints concerning Principe dealings

Detectives' phones started ringing quickly after Reno police said last week they wanted to talk to people who thought they might have been defrauded by television personality Bob Principe.

Within hours, detectives heard from nine people and began investigating their complaints, said Detective Jay Brown.

Brown said police also were attempting to determine why earlier fraud complaints against Principe were dropped during the past years.

"He's a flim-flam man," said Brown.

Principe didn't respond to an e-mail and a telephone message seeking comment on the police investigation.

The host of "The Home Show" and owner of Bob Principe Television & Marketing LLC, he was arrested late last month during investigation of charges he fleeced Miles Crail, the father of a female acquaintance.

Crail said Principe borrowed $57,600, pledging a home at 2025 Meadowview Lane in Reno as collateral. Crail said he later determined through assessor's records that Principe didn't own the home and never had.

(Some Web sites list the Meadowview Lane property as the headquarters of Principe's company.)

Principe had made three payments totaling $28,000 on the loan, but Crail said he became suspicious after several friends cautioned him about doing business with Principe.

Crail went to police in November. Principe was arrested May 23 on a warrant alleging he obtained money under false pretenses.