$30,000 Loan - Amanda Re 2023
Amanda Re alleges that Jenkins and Sylvester conned her in a Ponzi scheme.
James Adam Jenkins convinced Amanda Re to loan he and Kerry Sylvester $25,000 in cash and $5,000 in marketing services for their businesses (Fostering LYFE and Signature Charcuterie) by presenting an investment opportunity that Sylvester urgently wanted Re to do. Re and Sylvester had become close when Sylvester and Jenkins sold their Graze Craze charcuterie concept to United Franchise Group, and even closer when Sylvester was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Jenkins leaned heavily on her empathy, trust, and sense of urgency, making the situation sound time-sensitive and emotionally charged. Framing it as a temporary arrangement, Jenkins assured her the funds would be repaid by May 5, 2024.
Re wired $25,000 to an account Jenkins had provided on December 8, 2023, and provided the marketing services before the repayment date. Jenkins and Sylvester committed $51,000 in return for the loan, with Sylvester's trust as the borrower. They claimed the trust, The Kerry L. Sylvester Revocable Trust, was managed by Christine Fritze at Gailer & Associates Law Firm. After Sylvester's passing on December 17, 2024, Fritze commented that attorney Rob Rainey at Rainey Law had arranged Sylvester's trust, not her firm.
Prior to wiring the money, Jenkins and Sylvester had confirmed their intent to repay the money, via Google Meet video call. When the funds we not repaid on the due date, May 5, 2024, Sylvester insisted Jenkins would repay the loan. On another Google Meet call, Jenkins told Re to speak directly with his legal coordinator, Sandra (Sandy) Lentz, to arrange for repayment, as she handled all of their legal affairs.
It was later learned that Lentz herself was not associated with any legal profession. Sylvester and Jenkins had purchased a domain, [email protected], to create several email addresses to assume a role as a legal entity. Lentz carried out a plan for Jenkins to further deceive Re to believing Jenkins was waiting on a large payment from United Franchise Group (UFG), related to the sale of the charcuterie concept.
Jenkins text messages to Lentz, instructing her how to respond to Re
Lentz email to Re
Lentz additionally shared that she had known Jenkins for years, as she was the mother of Tammy (Samantha) Jenkins, ex-wife of Jenkins.
Re received a judgement in her favor on December 3, 2024 in a civil case against The Kerry L. Sylvester Revocable Trust, Kerry Sylvester and J A (James Adam) Jenkins. No. CJ-2024-3157. The case was filed on August 21, 2024. The defendants owe Re $51,000, interest, and related attorneys fees. As of July 1, 2025, nothing has been repaid.
Lentz has been in court in Seminole County, Florida for a criminal felony charge.
CHARGE 1 - 1st DEGREE FELONY - 812.0145(2)(A) - THEFT FROM A PERSON 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER ($50,000 OR MORE)
DISPOSITION - ADJUDICATED GUILTY (05/22/2025)
Learn more about her case from Seminole County records, Case No. 2024CF001140A.
Lake Mary woman accused of conning elderly victim out of $100K in phony legal fees
