A Hall County woman says she lost $50,000 in a real estate investment proposed by a local fisherman.

Julie Grant told Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh she used inheritance from her father to purchase hunting land in Crittendon County, Ky.

Grant said her friend, Robbie Sowash, a sport fisherman from the Lake Lanier area, came to her with the proposal and promised that they could buy and sell the property and make a profit.

Grant told Kavanaugh she agreed because she thought the investment had a safety net, and the contract indicated that if the property did not close, she could get her investment back.

Grant said she met Sowash in the parking lot of an IHOP on Buford Drive and signed contracts for a $52,000 land deal. Now she claims Sowash took her money and wrote checks to cover other debts.

Grant filed a civil suit and won, but Sowash filed for bankruptcy so she cannot recover her money.

Gwinnett police charged Sowash with theft by deception and arrested him at a fishing tournament in Alabama.

“She didn’t receive anything in return for the large amounts of money that she gave to this person to act on her behalf," said Gwinnett County police Cpl. Jake Smith.

Kevin Pratt, Sowash’s attorney told Kavanaugh, “The investment didn’t pan out because the economy tanked.” Pratt said Sowash lost his investment as well.