DALLAS — Michael Anthony Manos is behind bars in San Francisco, accused of stealing money from the elite all over the country — including North Texas.
Manos’ online photo album includes snapshots with celebrities from Dallas Cowboys receiver Miles Austin to Jane Fonda. He has hosted parties and premieres in Dallas, Atlanta and New York City, with the stated goal of raising money for charities.
But detectives told News 8 it was all an act. They say Manos' intention was to trick high society donors out of thousands of dollars.
"He is brilliant at it," said recording artist Kelly King. "There is a stroke of genius to what he does, and he is highly entertaining."
Kelly King knew Manos as Christian DeMedici. She was the headliner at a charity event in New York City nearly two years ago to launch his reality television show, "Pop Life."
King didn’t lose any money, but she said Manos used her talent to attract hundreds of people to the event. King said some of them gave money to Manos.
“We put our heart and soul into our music as artists, and I really thought this was going to be my big break," King said. "When we tried to reach out to him about the TV show he promised, the investment deal he promised, he just fell off the face of the Earth."
After Manos disappeared, investigators said he went on to use same playbook in other cities — from Atlanta to Dallas. In North Texas, he was known as Mordan Stefanov.
Investigators said Manos had 14 known aliases. The convicted kidnapper and thief is being investigated by at least three police agencies.
Three of his former Dallas employees — including his bodyguard — started investigating Manos after they didn't get paid. Manos skipped town nearly two weeks ago and threatened the employees who were looking into his alleged lies.
Those employees got a tip that Manos was in San Francisco. U.S. Marshals arrested him on a parole violation.
Sources told News 8 that Manos had 31 credit cards belonging to his alleged victims.
As for Kelly King, she moved on — but she hopes Manos never gets out of jail.
"I want him to be able to never do this to anyone again," King said.
E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com
