San Antonio Man Arrested for Sign-Making Scam
San Antonio — In a rather shocking turn of events, a man believed to be behind a crafty sign-making scam is now behind bars. The suspect, Taylor Jeffrey McKemberly, was recently added to San Antonio’s most wanted list, making him quite the talk of the town. It turns out, he had a whopping 23 theft warrants scattered across various counties in Texas, dating all the way back to 2019. McKemberly was arrested on October 10, and the details of his alleged antics are making the rounds.
A Sneaky Scheme
According to an arrest warrant from a theft case in 2022, this crafty conman posed as a legitimate sign-maker, took payments from unsuspecting victims, and then vanished into thin air. Over the summer, several local business owners reported him to authorities, utterly unaware that they were dealing with someone who had already made a name for himself on the most wanted list.
One of the victims, Gabrielle Oliva, owner of Barbwire Vintage Boutique, shared her experience. She opened a new location on Fredericksburg Road just this past summer. In July, a man introducing himself as “Jeff” walked into her shop. “He spoke with confidence, mentioning all the technical details about signage,” Oliva recalled. “He was telling me what angles work best, the right size, the importance of lighting—everything!”
No Suspicion Here
Believing he was a fellow small business owner looking to lend her a hand, she decided to take the plunge and handed over a down payment of $1,000. “He promised to have the sign ready in a month, but here we are, three months later, and it’s just crickets,” she lamented. As time passed with no sign materializing, Oliva began to get suspicious. “He kept making excuses, and I just thought, ‘This isn’t right.’ That’s when I decided to go to the police,” she sadly reflected.
Another Victim Steps Forward
But she wasn’t alone in her plight. Down the street, Jared and Joshua Ramos, owners of House of Trends, found themselves caught in the same web. Shockingly, they too lost $1,000 to the same con artist. “It’s disappointing to think someone would make a regular thing out of ruining others’ livelihoods,” Joshua said, shaking his head. They also filed a report with the San Antonio Police Department.
As it turns out, the name “Jeff Signs” he gave them was nothing more than a fabricated alias. The brothers quickly became aware that they had fallen victim to McKemberly’s deceitful tactics. Online records reveal that McKemberly has a long history of theft convictions dating as far back as 2007. Surprisingly, he was even featured in a report from 2015 for having pulled off a similar sign scheme.
The Impact on Local Businesses
“It really stings because we work so hard for our money,” Oliva expressed, feeling the weight of the situation. Following the incident, she made the tough decision to close her Fredericksburg location but continues to manage her store in Devine. Meanwhile, House of Trends remains open, but the Rames brothers admit that losing a grand hit them hard. “Money is a bit tight right now; it’s just us running the whole show,” Jared said, underscoring the difficulties that small businesses face.
On the Radar of Authorities
As for McKemberly, he has not yet been charged in connection with these recent allegations, but authorities are actively investigating the matter. Currently, he remains behind bars with bonds totaling $76,000. It’s frustrating to see someone take advantage of honest business owners just trying to make a living. As this story unfolds, many are left hoping that justice will prevail.
