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PALM BAY, Fla. — Palm Bay Police have arrested 30-year-old Jonathan Douglas Eads, owner of “Tocco D’Amore Kitchen,” in connection with a sophisticated multi-state fraud and theft scheme totaling nearly $40,000 in stolen goods. The arrest follows a months-long investigation involving multiple victims, fraudulent checks, and a fake nonprofit operation.

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Arrest and Charges

According to Palm Bay Police, Eads was taken into custody on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 11:04 a.m. He faces multiple felony charges, including Scheme to Defraud, Grand Theft, Uttering a Forged Instrument (38 counts), and Communications Fraud (5 counts). Investigators say the crimes were committed in Palm Bay and across several other states.

Fake Nonprofit Used to Target Victims

Police say Eads promoted “Tocco D’Amore Kitchen” as “a non-profit organization that provides vocational training and employment opportunities to individuals with autism and similar exceptional abilities.” He claimed the organization focused on teaching baking skills, using this narrative to gain sympathy and credibility with businesses and individuals.

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Once trust was established, Eads allegedly made purchases for the organization using fraudulent checks, leaving a trail of unpaid merchandise and financial losses in his wake. Investigators estimate the current combined value of stolen products to be approximately $50,000, though court records place the total fraudulent amount at just under $40,000.

Multi-State Victims and Modus Operandi

An affidavit filed in Brevard County Circuit Court reveals the depth of Eads’ scheme. Between October 2024 and July 2025, he allegedly uttered 37 fraudulent checks from various banks including SoFi, Sutton Bank, Fidelity Investments, Varo Bank, Bancorp, and JP Morgan Chase.

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Victims include:

• Appliance Direct (Palm Bay) — Eads purchased nearly $5,000 in appliances using multiple checks that bounced, ultimately returning the items in damaged condition.
• Sunjoy Group Inc. (Chicago) — Fraudulent orders totaling $15,984 were placed tax-free using the nonprofit’s 501(c)(3) status, with fake checks sent via email.
• Northwest Synergy (Tennessee) — More than $9,600 in products were ordered and paid for through repeated ACH payments that were later reversed.
• Escapade International (Lake Wales) — Over $8,500 in products were ordered using multiple fictitious checks.
• Rocky Top Delights (Tennessee) — $452 worth of candy products ordered and later found being sold at a garage sale.
• Barry-Owen Inc. (California) — $1,399.54 worth of merchandise purchased using a fake Fidelity Investments check.

Locally, Eads’ own landlord also became a victim. He allegedly passed a series of bad checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars while renting his Palm Bay residence, leading to eviction in June 2025.

Investigation and Evidence

Detective Aaron Arndt of the Palm Bay Police Department’s General Crimes Unit led the investigation. Officers gathered evidence from bank records, witness statements, text messages, emails, and social media posts. According to the affidavit, Eads often used Facebook Marketplace to resell fraudulently obtained items, including appliances, merchandise, and candy.

His estranged wife, Sabrina Requeiro, provided sworn statements indicating that Eads routinely “printed checks” from his phone to make purchases and sold items through garage sales and a booth at Renningers Flea and Farmers Market in Melbourne.

Investigators also confirmed that Eads’ claims of winning a $6 million lawsuit against his former employer were false. Both the employer and a financial firm reported that he had attempted to use a fake $6 million check to open a financial account.

Police Call for Additional Victims

Palm Bay Police urged anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Eads or “Tocco D’Amore Kitchen” to come forward with information. Individuals can contact the department at (321) 952-3463.

“Our General Crimes Unit has worked tirelessly over the past few months to investigate these incidents and ensure justice for the victims,” Palm Bay Police said in a statement. “We remain committed to protecting our community and holding individuals accountable for criminal behavior.”

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