Perfect Predators (Manny Frade) - Scammer on Breeding Loan

ALCON -

Please see the enclosed record of accounts regarding the breeding loan between Mr. Manny Frade of Perfect Predators Inc. and myself, Victor Martino of Martino Reptiles. Without dragging out the post – I’ll post evidence on the original agreement, animals advertised and the actual outcome of the contract. Mr. Frade refuses to return my animals stating they are "sick, stressed from his new facility move, just fed" or whatever other excuse he comes up with. The adult pictured he sent me was supposed to be one of my females - which it is not.

On 8/19/11 I bought my plane ticket for my first Daytona Reptile Show. Traveling on Jet Blue flight #31 destined for Orlando I would pick up my rental car, drive to Daytona Beach and stay at the “reptile hotel” across from the convention center for a weekend of sandy beaches and boas. I would meet some wonderful individuals, to include the legendary Jeff Ronne “The Boaphile” Mr. Jeff Ronne and Lucas Matlock of Matlock Morphs. Unfortunately, I would also meet Mr. Manny Frade of Perfect Predators. Walking up to his display it was quite impressive. LED lights shined down on animals highlighting their beautiful colors, the black draped cloth under the tables allowed the animals to be wonderfully exemplified behind the acrylic cases, etc. I would meet Jeff Ronne for the first time in front of Frade’s table, and introduce myself. His reply “you’re kidding?” from previous dealings I have had with him since I was 16-years old. I was 32 in 2011, so meeting a legendary breeder you have done business with for the past 16-years previous was an amazing thing. Great trip, wonderful experiences but one deal I would regret later in life.

On 9/7/2011 I saw an advertisement on the Kingsnake.com classifieds about some VPI T+ Pink Panther animals that were for sale. I contacted Mr. Frade on a possible purchase of one female he had advertised. The female was a 2011 female, allegedly produced by Manny that year. We discussed the purchase of the animal and agreed to a straight pay of $2500.00 via PayPal transaction ID: 2P723611YT751805R on 01 November 2011. Note pictures below of the actual signed contract, which contains the first female and her markings. Manny and I discussed the fact that he was “sad” to see the female leave, and we discussed the possibility of doing a breeding loan together. Boas as most are aware are best raised as neonates in the same facility in order to let them breed. So it made sense to keep the females there. On 09/08/11 I sent Manny a draft copy of the breeding loan agreement outlining what would be expected if we did anything. He was in agreement (see attached email from Manny as well as the signed Breeding Loan Contract dated 9/27/11 electronically). The loan was simple – I would get roughly 40% if the babies produced and keep the original purchased female. He would receive “first pick” plus 60% of the babies for raising and breeding the animal in his custody. Breeding trials would begin in 2014/2015 depending on the size of the female. See the contract for more details of specifics are required.

Approximately two weeks thereafter, a second female would be advertised on Kingsnake.com, this one notably fatter and different than the other female in the first advertisement (known as “female #2). I contacted Mr. Frade – sent another $2500.00 for that female with the same arrangements as the first. That female and purchase was annotated via email. I asked Mr. Frade to sign the second contract, but excuses about how busy he was and how his business was “really taking off” allowed him to avoid the subject. Thereafter, other transactions took place with Mr. Frade and without issue. I received a T+ VPI Motley PP from him, as well as a T+ Sunglow Jungle over the course of the next 2-years. Both transactions flawless, and animals were received in good health.

So where are we now, in 2017? Manny has made a VARIETY of excuses stating why the animals have not produced to date to include; 1. Both females are “partho” meaning – no siblings in that specific litter have produced either, 2. Both females are “sick.” Apparently after the move to his new facility in 2016 the females will only sporadically feed and not consistently (but what happened during the breeding trials of 2014 and 2015?) He has told me he will return the females but I am to “babysit them” due to their health. When told to ship them, he does not reply. 3. Both females that were supposed to be shipped as of last week were “fed by his helper” and could not be shipped because they had a full meal in them. Sick boas that need to be “babysat” are feeding? The last text exchange was with Manny yesterday (02-Feb-2017) – whereby I received a photo of a female that was neither the first female I bought in 2011, nor the second (known as female #2 in correspondence). Scanning through the pictures today, I noticed the markings simply do not match. So what happened to my original females?

The final exchange via text message yesterday was me stating that [“everything will be made public and transparent for the world to see”] and his response was; “start today.” As a result of this exchange, I was hoping for Mr. Frade to resolve the issue which, at this point he has no intention of doing. I have extended the offer to resolve the matter by refunding the original $5,000 which he has stated “I’ll have to wait on a real estate deal to go through, partial trade which he has attempted to tell me my “trade value” would be based on the original value of $5,000 dollars and not the inflated value of having adult potential breeding females, etc. It is obvious that the 5-D’s of Dodgeball are in true effect here – and he will avoid further discussion of resolving the issue. Therefore as promised at 1700-EST here is the information for all to see.

A word of advice to all involved in this hobby. Avoid breeding loans at all cost and simply do it yourself. Avoid people with any bad feedback on the Fauna BOI. Treat everyone with the utmost respect and try to do right by them, but do not get taken advantage of. Avoid sending payments through PayPal for unknown breeders because they do not protect you for live animal purchases. And remember this saying a wise boa breeder once told me; “sometimes these people are slimier than the snakes they sell.”

Four attachments are contained in this thread;
(1) Signed Breeding Loan Contract by Mr. Frade
(2) TXT Message stating I would expose him where he said "start today' (obviously not willing to rectify the issue).
(3) Pic of one of the females he claims cannot be shipped by recommendation of his VET. Notice the markings - they do not match ANY of my originally purchased females.
(4) Pic of "Female #2" or the second female I purchased in this breeding loan. The first female is pictured in the contract.

Additional supporting evidence can be posted here on request, with all supporting evidence referenced on my Facebook page. However, I will happily post anything here for the ADMINS.



VR/

Victor Martino
Martino Reptiles
www.martinoreptiles.com
Martino Reptiles LLC (Facebook)
Instagram: martinoreptiles