JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An embattled owner tied to dozens of Jacksonville rental properties that are going through foreclosures owes JEA hundreds of thousands of dollars.
JEA said Peoples Choice, an LLC tied to social media influencer and self-proclaimed billionaire Jarek Tadla, owes them $459,810.84 for 17 different properties.
JEA said it has not received a payment since October 2025. JEA says it has since reached out to the company multiple times, as recently as March of this year. JEA says it is working to exhaust all efforts and keep utilities connected at all properties.
On Thursday, News4JAX went to the address that has been listed for Peoples Choice and residents told us they did not know the company was behind on their payment. The complex is called Virginian Arms.
“What are they doing with the money?” asked Howard Wiley.
Wiley is a veteran and is wheelchair bound. He says he worries about what will happen next.
According to court records, Virginian Arms has been foreclosed and will be auctioned in April. Something Wiley says he did not know.
RELATED |‘It’s horrid’: Tenants say they’re paying nearly $1K for mold, leaks, and broken AC in duplexes owned by major landlord|Water is back at a Westside apartment complex after days without service. But residents don’t know how long it will last
Court records also show multiple properties tied to Tadla are in the foreclosure process.
Regarding Peoples Choice, JEA gave this timeline:
“There are 17 individual locations/complexes. The current balance on the account is $459,810.84, of which $331,680.83 is past due. Since Oct. 27, JEA has made eight separate contacts (Dates made contact 10/27/25, 11/13/25, 12/15/25, 01/09/26, 01/29/2026, 02/17/26, 03/02/26, 03/04/26) with the management team to discuss past due balances, options to pay those amounts and payment arrangements to allow them to meet their obligations. Our goal has been to work with the company to exhaust all efforts and keep the utilities connected at all properties.”
JEA also says the property next door, Arbor Oaks, listed under Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC, owes them more than $8,000. That complex is also tied to the management company Legacy Family Communities, formerly known as Peoples Choice, according to court records and emails from Legacy Family Communities.
JEA said services for 2535 Jammes Road are currently under Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC. The property has a current balance of $8,192.87, of which $4,864.52 is past due.
JEA issued a 48-hour notice on March 5, 2026. The next step would be for JEA to disconnect common-area electric services if sufficient payment is not received. The electric disconnection will not impact individual tenant units.
The account for services for 2535 Jammes Road under Jacksonville Rental Properties LLC are currently 60 days past due. JEA has made five separate contacts with the management team to discuss past due balances, options to pay those amounts and payment arrangements to allow them to meet their obligations.
“We keep in mind that disconnection of foundational utility services impacts families, children and possibly individuals with medical issues,” said Myers Vasquez, JEA spokesperson. “In cases involving multi-family units, JEA works to exhaust all measures to allow the property owner to meet their obligations before disconnecting any services. We recognize that the disconnection of essential utility services impacts multiple individuals and families.”
We have attempted to reach out to Tadla multiple times in the last several months and have not gotten a response back, but he continues to maintain a presence on social media, posting videos and photos. On Instagram, he has 8 million followers.