Jerry Detwiler..."Con artist of the year award"

Mr. Detwiler is one on he most smooth talkers I've EVER met. I think he missed his calling as a T.V. evangelist,telling people to send him money.......as I did.
I bought 1.1 Adult BRB's from him. Tried to breed em 2 years in a row. Come to find out they were both females!
I bought 2 childrens pythons.They died.
Me & Jerry began to call each other daily, I guess this was just part of the "set up" He would tell me," Dave, I want to see you have better animals" So he played me until it came to the "big deal"
I traded him.........
2.2 adult beautiful,breeding Hog Isles,if you've seen my Hogs,these were some of my best
0.1 Hog Isle,that was NOTHING but white
1.2 Adult BRB's, I even had to ship one of them seperate due to an order he or one of his friends had screwed up to David Mcgowen
He agreed to pay 1/2 shipping and send me a killer Hypo, a baby anery (male). I got this ugly Hypo and the anery (which was a girl) instead of a boy that he promised it would be!
He NEVER paid for ANY of the shipping! I've e mailed him over and over....................nothing
I'm new to Hypos so I sent some pics to "well known" Hypo breeders to ask bout the quality of the Hypo I got from him, Plus I didn't mention that I'd got them from Jerry Detwiler/ Canopy Creations
ALL the replies were the same stating these animals were nothing special, some even said they were B grade ugly. Keeping this is mind,I even ask Jerry(prior to trading) to send me pics of the Hypo before he shipped. His replies were,"trust me" "you'll see her when you open the box!"I even bought an F1 from him and the well known breeders told me it was "nothing"
This is what ya get for trusting someone. I only posted this as a last resort. I really didn't want to. Sometimes it's hard to admit how someone used you, lied to you & plain ripped me off.
PLEASE BEWARE of Jerry Detwiler/ Canopy Creations. He even told me once he had a pigeon named Bill Green that live near him and how he "took" him for thousands! This should have told me something. I guess @ the time I thought he was telling me this meant he wouldn't con me...........WRONG!
Jerry's got ALOT of reptile friends out there that will come to bat for him as favors. You know. being in the "click"
I still have the cancelled check he sent me to pay for a snake,it bounced and he NEVER paid me for it.
Like I said this guy is a pro con artist, not just a smooth talker.
IF anyone is interested I have pics of the Hypos,F1 and cancelled check.I'm sure Jerry & Co. will come back to this and have alot to say. Truth is .............I got conned and conned good. Don'y let it happen to you.
Jerry buys alot of animals and then resales em the same day as "healthy,eating and well establish" when they only were there long enough to be unpacked and the re packed for shipping. do NOT trust this guy!
ALL IN ALL Jerry Detwiler owes me $85 an apology and a BIG refund for this Hypo he said was worth $2,200! He even conned me so well, he ask me not to breed and sell the babies @ a low cost cause it'll hurt his business. These Hypo's are so ugly, they couldn't hurt anyone's business...............just part of the con. Ever seen the movie "The Sting"? That's Jerry Detwiler straight up and down, NOTHING more than a CON artist

I have a xouple questions for you.  Keep in mind before I start, I do NOT know Jerry.
You say you had some BRB's that you were trying to breed for 2 yrs.  You then say in the trade you got a female instead of a male Anery.  Sounds to me like you sexed the anery when you got it, why didn't you do the same when you got hte BRB's?  I always sex something that is broughtin right away.
Also, you mentioned how you were not satisfied with the animals you got on trade.   Did you ever ask for pics BEFORE you got these?  If you did and you knew what you were getting, you would have known you would not like them before he sent them.  I have seen alot of hypos and I have owned some AWESOME ones myself, but there are not too many that are worth $2200.  
As far as the shipping is concerned, if he agreed to pay half or all or whatever....then he should.
Just my thoughts.
Brian Oakley

If you'll read the post AGAIN. I stated I wanted to see pics. He said "trust me" ypu'll see how beautiful she is when you open the box! he did send me a pic of a small Hypo that he said she looked ALOT like him..............when I opened the box, she looked NOTHING like the one in the pic. The one in the pic was a cream color with high orange. The one I got has heavy freckling, ALOT of black and her saddles are a burnt orange/brown. If you's like I can e mail you the same pics I e mailed to the other breeders? Let me know. Dave

Also I like to add Mr. Detwiler is now calling my house and threating me with a lawsiut because I stated the actuall facts and how he misrepresented his animals.
Remember. I've e mailed him for weeks asking for my money. now, when a post comes out.....he sure can get in touch with me. Matter of fact it only took him 1 1/4 hrs after my post to contact me after trying to resolve this for 3 months!

Dave....This just shows how VALUABLE this site is!!
But, when you tell your story...DON'T sugarcoat it! Tell it like it is!! <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> ....Neil

Dave,

I'm usually just a lurker here but I saw you post and I had to respond. I do understand where your coming from and I can see why your upset. The Hypos in question are not what you expected but as Brian Oakley said... You should have waited for pic's in the first place. I can honestly say that no matter how much I spend or which breeder I purchase my animals from I make sure they are exactly what I want before I commit.

The fact that the shipping was meant to be paid by the shipper is something to be frustrated about as well. If he promised to pay shipping in the first [place then there shouldn't have been a problem. This is something worth complaining about.

All in all I wish you the best and I hope it works out. You have my e-mail address so feel free to let me know how things work out.

Thanks,
Darren Hamill

Darren, he did send me a small pic of a cream colored animal with orange saddles. He said this pic well represented the one I was getting. He also stated," Dave, When you open the box, you'll be VERY happy"
As far as shipping he had me sip it to his mothers instead of his house, which I couldn't figure out why @ the time,now,I know why. When he told me to put it on "his" account, that address (mommy) doesn't have an account.
So after seeing a pic of an animal that was "supposed" to look like the one I was getting and we had done ALOT of business prior...............I trusted him.........mistake
I even got angry with him once and wouldn't except his calls. Finally........I excepted his call. He said, "Dave, I'm soooo sorry you feel this way" He said." me & the wife were going to drive all the way down to TN to meet you & your wife ( part of the con) I felt like maybe ..........I'd misjudged him and excepted his apology.
My wife,who doesn't know much bout snakes, even told me,"Dave, This guy is ripping you off!" At the time i honestly though, Well, he calls 2-3 times a day (long distance) we's even discussed family problems together.
This last "transaction" REALLY hurt my feelings.I kept looking at the Hypo's and how ugly they were, After being told they were worth $2,200 + and he had me promise when I breed em not to sell em cheap so I wouldn't hurt the market....I though I really had something going on for the 1st time since I started working with snakes! Wrong!
I work VERY hard for my money. Me & my wife live from one paycheck to another.Finally I though I was getting a pair that I could make some money on
All in all I traded.............
2.2 adult BEAUTIFUL Hogs I'd had since babies, if you've ever seen my Hogs, these were the BEST I ever had!
1.2 Adult BRB's high quality animals (2 females were the 1.1 that ended up being 0.2 he sold me that were the wrong sex! Which I tried to breed for two years!
0.1 almost white,freckless hog
1.0 Adult Sorong.....patternless
$550 cash and shipping both ways! Not to mention he's bough 1 snake from me, the check bounced and he NEVER paid me for that. I still have the check.
One of the biggest reasons he got me so good was,he'd let me make payments, where I can't afford one lump sum @ a time
Jerry Detwiler "played" me from day one for 3 years!I can't beleive I let it happen to me?! Now, he left a message on my answering machine saying he's gonna sue me! For what?!
I posted what ALL happened so no one else would get bent over like I did.Out of ALL the snakes I sent him,I counted up the cash I'd sent him over 3 years............$3505!
I wish Bill Green of VA would read this post! He's the one Jerry said that his step Dad had ALOT of money and Bill was his favorite pigeon! I thought by him telling me this,that it meant he wouldn't do me that way or he wouldn't have told me bout Bill.........wrong again!

As far as shipping is concerned I have learned the hard way that some people will do whatever they want after they get your money (USPS, 2nd day, not pay their side, etc.). The only solution I have found so far is tell the seller you are going to pay in full for the shipment (have it deducted form the animal's price) and send airborne express to be paid by recipient. You can even do that from your computer and set everything up so AE can pick the box from the shipper's home.
Life is a learning process!

Regards,

Daniel

My experience with jerry has been great. We have spent close to 10,000 dollars  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'> on snakes from him. Every single snake has been exactly as describe from him. He has beautiful healthy animals. We will continue to do business with him now and in the future.

Brandie Wyatt
D & B Reptiles

From what I've seen & understand if you are willing to spent a good amount or are well known......no problem
If you "the little guy" bend over! If your anyone that knows anyone or are a reputal breeder.....no problems. Jerry's told me of the $1,000's he's sold. But a small timer like me doesn't have a chance. He won't mess with anyone in the higher up in the business..........I know this for a fact!I got crappy animals cause I'm noboday and don't have connections. He'd NEVER bend over someone that's got clout! I look for anyday for Jerry to have some of his well known breeder friends to post in his favor. ALOT of those friends of his seen my pics but I didn't list Jerry's name. and those "big time breeder" friends of his said my animals I got were crap. One "EXTREMLY WELL KNOWN BREEDER FOR HYPO'S Said, "The F1 in the pic you sent me is NOTHING!"
Don't worry! If ya got ALOT of cash and are "popular" in this field,he'll NEVER mess with you! Jerry loves money more than life it's self!
PLUS if Mr. Detwiler makes sooooo much money, why did I have to go to the Bank and pay for the total of the check & service's charges that he wouldn't cover or send me a refund?!

hey dave,
i truly feel for you in this situation.  it's understandable that you are upset and rightly so.  thank you for the heads up on the situation, please know that you have saved me from ever even thinking of doing business with him.  i hope the situation gets resolved and if he truly wants to keep his reputation in tact, he will go above and beyond what is necessary to right the situation.  if it were me, i would ask that all animals (that one of the two of you still have in your possession) be returned at his expense and full costs covered by him.  also, remember that you have another source to recoup some of your losses, the post office.  if anything was sent via mail or a postal money order was ever used, you may have the option of using mail fraud in a court of law.  check your records and see if this was ever used for anything and then you have a perfectly legitimate case and i don't know about you, if someone was threatening me with federal offense/ prison time, you bet your @$$ i would do whatever it took to keep myself in the clear.
i dunno, just a couple of ramblings thrown together in a haphazzard but hopefully somewhat sensical manner.
hope everything works out for you as best as it can and maybe some day i can be in touch with you about one of your beautiful animals!
later dave and have a good one,
jonathan brady

well I know dave and have seen some his Hogg Ilsands they are everything he says they are and more....anyone that would do something like this to him needs to be taken out to the proverbial wood shed.....I definitly know one thing I will NEVER do any kind of business with Jerry Detwiler and hopefully neither will any one else who reads about him...


Chris Gibson

I'm With Dave if I get screwed on a snke (which I have ) I would be pissed. A lot of big time breeders forget it is us the small timers that helps out the business. we are the one who purchase  higher end animals. The public generally go for 10-20 dollar snakes or less. The small time breeder might put up about 1000 dollars on a single animal. we buy from teh big breeder because we are buying your name brand. just like in clothing, people would liek to by CK, Tommy, Etc. We trust that the big timers won't screw us and would provid us with quality animals, and hopefully CB, CH, ect..., not some POS that is wild caught. I prefer to purchase from big breeders. like Russ from RL reptiles just as one example.(hey Dave he has some awesome hypos for good price). and you know if I ever get into pythons I'll probably buy from Bob Clark because he has some of the best pythons I know. or Even Dave Lawson he has great animals. (and for the other big timers I  didn't mentiong I would still buy from you). I hope you can get everythign straighten away Dave.

Thanx

Winston <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I have to agree with Winston in saying buying from the breeder leaves you better off.  Its always a good idea to never purchase an animal without a pic(something I hold dear) unless you know that person very well.  Its also a good idea to ask for a new pic with something placed next to it that you request like a coin or pen.  If they cant produce a pic, especially on a higher end animal then its better of to just leave it be.  This forum does work, and its always best to check the BOI before making a purchase and if theres no info on someone then inquire on it.  Unfourtunaltly there are many untrustworthy individuals out there making practices like this a mandatory when purchasing anything.  All basically boils down again to BUYER BEWARE!  I hope you recover your losses, and good luck.    Michael Beberman

I will not comment on details per si, only because of the fact that it is my sincere intentions to allow the Courts to hear this dispute. I will state the following for the record:
First and foremost, This transaction took place many months ago and all of the sudden Dave does not like the Hypo? He sent e mails to me praiseing the Hypo and the Anery months ago! He even went as far as to promise to sell him another Anery this season. Regarding the statement made made saying I refered to Bill Green as a pigeon, that is a complete lie and anyone that knows me knows that I don't even speak in that manner. Bill and I have been close friends for many years and I am sure he has forgot more regarding reptiles than Dave will ever know! He can afford to go anywhere to purchase his inventory. I do not require a credit check in order to deal with people. Chris Gibson, who I do not know takes the stance that because Dave says I am ( The con artist of the year) that he (Chris) will never do business with me and hopes that no one that reads his comments will. Chris goes on to remark that he has seen Daves Hoggs. What does that mean? Did you know Dave has never produced any Hogg Island Boas? In fact, He has never produced anything but Spotted Pythons. Look people, I respect this Forum and feel it has a great purpose in regards to our  Hobby and or occupations, but, lets not be too quick to pass judgement until all the facts are in. Thanks for your time. I will inform all of you regarding the Judicial outcome. Sincere regards, Jerry <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

The deal is Jerry Detwiler:
1) you misrepresented your animals to me
2) you took advantage of me,as far as the trade and not exactly being honest
3) I got a "bad check" Mr.big time breeder" that you couldn't cover for $125.00! That I had to go to the Bank and pay the $125 PLUS $50 for charges,that you NEVER reinburshed me!
4) you agreed to pay 1/2 of the shipping on your last deal (or should I say "con") you never did,you never even answered the 6 e mails I sent you that simply said," PLEASE reply & let me know."
5) Now on top of lying,cheating me,owing me money, you have the nerve to try to take me to court! What ever happened to "being a man?!" You Mr. Detwiler know your in the wrong.I still have the check if anyone would like to see it!
I still have the airbill that Mr. Detwiler agreed to pay 1/2 and didn't. And PLEASE tell me what breeding has to do with Mr. Detwiler cheating me out of money?!?!?
A "man" will stand up for what he beleives in,not stand behind a lawyer,especially when you are the one in the wrong!
I don't owe Mr. Detwiler money
Mr. Detwiler does NOT have bad checks from me
Mr. Detwiler does not have ugly snakes from me
Shoot ole Jer.......what in the world are you taking me to court for anyway? Because I posted how you conned me? Or how you write bad checks? Or how I got the "bad deal" Just EXACTLY Mr. Detwiler  why are you taking me to court?
You made a VERY sincere post, but you forgot to mention, what I've EVER done to you.................NOTHING!

Dave,In regards to the dishonored check, you know exactly what happened! Paypal charged my account twice for the same transaction I was making, thus putting a hold on my account and causing your check to be dishonored. You forgot to mention also what a God send it was, The snake arrived very sick and had to be medically treated for internal parasites! So much for the captive bred (Black Boa)..You also burned me for 15 Spotted Pytnons. I called for more than a week to finally be informed that you went on another bender and once again went to jail for domestic violence! I bet it is all available in the Kingsport, Tenn.Court computers. See you in Court!

I did not "burn you" on the Spotted Pythons..........I just didn't sell them to you is all.
As far as the check,I had to pay for it ($125.00) plus $50 service charge! Buy the way,I do have a copy of the check & can send it to ANYONE who would like to see it. In BIG red letters is has "NSF"..wonder what that stands for ?
As far as YOUR pay pal,I have no idea what they did,I just know YOUR check cost me.
I almost feel sorry for you Jer.You've lied,cheated and flat out ripped me off and you grasping at straws to post any little thing you can come up, with or make up.
Grow up.
You still haven't told me why "we" are going to court after I have ask you. Could you PLEASE tell me and anyone else who reads this....................." WHY"?
Life is too short for little "spats" when you get a REAL problem,like mine where you were lied to,bad checks,bad snakes, and a little man who is trying desperatly to come up with ANYTHING to get the heat on me,instead of himself, then make a post.
You know what ALL you've took me for.If I was you I'd quit while I was ahead. Over the years you've told me an awful lot of things.ALOT of breeders names you've mentioned to me and made comments about them and their animals and their homelife.........even some wild stories of people that live NOT so far from you!
I came on this forum to tell people how I was done by one Jerry Lee Detwiler aka Canopy Creations. You did do me wrong for 3 years. Again, If I were you................I'd relax

http://www.herpwantads.com/forums/Inquiry2/posts/9471.html  go here and look what I found. Seems I'm NOT the only one that got,how you say Jer..............."burned"?

http://www.herpwantads.com/forums/Inquiry2/posts/9471.html well.......I found more on Mr. Detwiler. Just click the link and you can see for yourself.
Sure is weird that I'm not the only that's complained on ole Jer. and for the record, between the new BOI and the old BOI.....I have NO complaints whatsoever BUT, Ols Jer/conman/creations sure does!
As I stated earlier Jer...............I'd relax if I were you. You seem to try to go very low with your last post.I'd hate to get on here and name- names of ALL the breeders you've told me bout! I'll give you a hint ole buddy....1 of them sells only sick animals,you told me NEVER to buy from.who's VERY well known.The other has a taste for children.need I say more? And speaking of home life......do we need to mention..well I'll just save that good stuff in case Mr. Detwiler really wants to play dirty,like he has been trying to here lately. That's bad trying to take the heat off you and put it on me. BUT, I sure can put it on you ole Jer.if that's the way ya wanna play.
Remember.this is about how Jerry Detwiler ripped me off! NOT Jerry's "Days of our Lives"