Marshall Heyman

The residents of the Villa Carlotta apartments first remember seeing David Bloom in the summer of 2021. The neighbors were excited just to be near each other again. Every gathering felt like a party, and everyone was welcome.

The residents of the Villa Carlotta apartments first remember seeing David Bloom in the summer of 2021. The neighbors were excited just to be near each other again. Every gathering felt like a party, and everyone was welcome.

This is a film editor we're going to call Gina.

This is a film editor we're going to call Gina.

David Bloom introduced himself as a businessman, a Duke grad, an art lover. He had just moved into the Villa Carlotta. He was small, about 5'2", always well-dressed, always carrying a drink.

David Bloom introduced himself as a businessman, a Duke grad, an art lover. He had just moved into the Villa Carlotta. He was small, about 5'2", always well-dressed, always carrying a drink.

That's another Villa Carlotta resident we'll call Alexander. He works in marketing.

That's another Villa Carlotta resident we'll call Alexander. He works in marketing.

What strikes me about the way people from the Villa Carlotta talk about David Bloom is that no one really seemed to like him. Even before he allegedly scammed them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. But David had something even more important in Hollywood than likability. David had connections. Connections that he promised would lift everyone up around him.

What strikes me about the way people from the Villa Carlotta talk about David Bloom is that no one really seemed to like him. Even before he allegedly scammed them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. But David had something even more important in Hollywood than likability. David had connections. Connections that he promised would lift everyone up around him.

The Villa Carlotta apartments really are for people on the up and up, people who already have some money but are passing through Los Angeles to make some more. It's a cross between a chic hotel and a luxury apartment building. Every unit's fully furnished. It has a saltwater pool in the courtyard. There's a high-end fitness center and a concierge.

The Villa Carlotta apartments really are for people on the up and up, people who already have some money but are passing through Los Angeles to make some more. It's a cross between a chic hotel and a luxury apartment building. Every unit's fully furnished. It has a saltwater pool in the courtyard. There's a high-end fitness center and a concierge.

You get daily housekeeping and a palm garden that's also, quote, a tranquil urban refuge. Studios cost about $4,500 a month and a two-bedroom, two-bath will run you just over $7,000.

You get daily housekeeping and a palm garden that's also, quote, a tranquil urban refuge. Studios cost about $4,500 a month and a two-bedroom, two-bath will run you just over $7,000.

Are you guys friends?

Are you guys friends?

David Bloom told his new neighbors he had a house by the Chateau Marmont with two cars and a swimming pool. But he felt lonely there after his girlfriend left him. He wanted to live closer to the center of things. And very quickly, David put himself in the middle of the social scene at the villa. He seemed to know just what to talk about to win over everybody.

David Bloom told his new neighbors he had a house by the Chateau Marmont with two cars and a swimming pool. But he felt lonely there after his girlfriend left him. He wanted to live closer to the center of things. And very quickly, David put himself in the middle of the social scene at the villa. He seemed to know just what to talk about to win over everybody.

David made it known he'd studied art at Duke.

David made it known he'd studied art at Duke.