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South Florida man charged with swindling 2 N.Y. fiancees

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The Associated Press

Published: August 13, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - A 55-year-old South Florida man allegedly swindled some $400,000 from two New York women he was engaged to at the same time.

Authorities say Paul R. Francois coaxed one to move to Florida after she met him on vacation, and the other into taking out a $100,000 home equity loan on her Elmont, N.Y., place.

Francois was arrested Wednesday on two counts of first-degree theft and one of organized scheme to defraud.

Investigators say both women thought they'd spend the rest of their lives with Francois. When they started asking questions about the money, he allegedly hit one and threatened to kill the other.

The woman who moved to Florida says she's penniless and facing foreclosure on the Miramar home she and Francois bought.

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