Phoenix (3TV/CBS 5) — From lifting weights to getting a faster heart rate, Jeremy Jones says he loves changing people’s bodies and minds. “From a fitness standpoint and just helping people in general, I’d always say we help people with the fitness vehicle,” Jeremy said of On Yoid in the gym.
Jeremy operated his fitness center, Funktional Fitness, in Gilbert for 14 years. He says the business has been so successful that he wants to outgrow his current location and move to a new, bigger location. “It will be very refreshing. Modern and wide open.
Jeremy has computer generated renderings on the walls of the gym that show exactly what the new fitness center will look like. “We’ll have a nice entrance and cardio here and outside and we’ll have artificial turf and cool pools,” he said.
To get things started, Jeremy hired an architect a year and a half ago to draw up contractor plans so he could get permits. The construction started a few months ago. “It turned out to be one of the mistakes we made in September 2020 when we hired a man named Evo Badilla.
His full name is Evonec Badilla, and he runs a business called Evo12th Street Designs. Jeremy said he signed a contract with Badilla and the company for more than $28,000 to start the business. “So this is Evo Badilla, he himself is a con artist,” Jeremy said as he showed us a picture he found on the Internet.
According to Jeremy, the only thing he got from Badilla for $28,000 were two computerized displays. “These are very expensive pictures,” said sidekick Gary Harper. “Yes, they are very expensive,” replied Jeremy.
He joins your side and tries to find Badilla at the Scottsdale apartment. Badilla has a doorbell camera, and no one answered the door. But after we left, we got some disturbing news.
The Arizona Technical Registration Board regulates architects. But Badilla’s name and business, Evo 12th Street Designs, were not registered.
Many victims tell Side by Side that they gave Badilla money for architecture, and he disappeared with their money. One of those victims is Mike Bissemeyer. “What did you get for $12,500 from this so-called architect?” Harper asked. “Absolutely nothing,” he said.
Mike wanted to expand the company and presented Badilla with over $12,500 in plans, but Badilla lost the money. “After I gave him the money, he would go down the street and wait for them for 3 to 5 weeks, making excuses and then he would shut up,” Mike explained.
Business owners like Mike and Jeremy, and others, agree that small losses here and there are part of running a business. But willingly handing over a lot of money and trusting in one person is not part of a successful business model.
“What do you think you’re doing with your money? Harper asked. Jeremy replied, “Well, from what I’ve seen on social media, I’ve seen him at black races and fancy restaurants in Scottsdale. So: ‘To whom will he pay the money?’ I couldn’t help but think.”
Knowing On Your Side emailed me to say that he was investigating, that the fake contractor planned to start a payment plan with Jeremy. We will notify you when the first payment has been made and if so how much.
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