Owner of Columbia estate sale firm charged with breach of trust

The owner of a Columbia estate liquidation services company was charged Thursday with two counts of breach of trust after an investigation by Richland County deputies.

Estate Sales Guys owner Tony Hendon, 58, is alleged to have conducted two estate sales in late 2014 in which he failed to pay the proceeds to customers and didn’t return unsold items.

Hendon was entrusted to sell valuables belonging to vulnerable victims who were dealing with the loss of family members, Sheriff Leon Lott said.

The charges against Hendon follow a series of lawsuits filed by customers who said they were not given proceeds promised from sales.

As reported by The State last August, four lawsuits filed since December, 2014 allege the company agreed to handle estate sales for two elderly people who were downsizing, a man whose wife had passed away and a South Carolina woman who moved to Florida. One lawsuit was settled.

Hendon and the company denied any wrongdoing in answers to the lawsuits.

“He has been trying to pay his bills,” said Bill Watkins, Hendon’s attorney. “Obviously, you’ve got a lot of people who disagree.”

One lawsuit alleged the company continued to arrange sales even though it was “experiencing financial difficulty” and knew it would have trouble paying proceeds as soon as promised in agreements with customers.

Hendon was arrested in connection with two sales. According to arrest records:

· In November 2014, Hendon arranged to sell approximately $4,650 in furniture and electronics but never paid anyone and didn’t return items unsold.

· A month later, Hendon agreed to sell $90,000 worth of silver, jewelry, furniture, and a Persian rug but again failed to forward any proceeds and return unsold items.

The investigation is ongoing, with more charges possible, Lott said.

Estate Sales Guys is “South Carolina’s Premier Estate Sales Company,” its website says.

Hendon is being held at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, with Watkins saying a bond hearing will occur Friday.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Owner of Columbia estate sale firm charged with breach of trust."