A real-estate investor was fined $180,000 for running an Airbnb. He says his tenant is to blame for renting it out.

• A real-estate investor was fined $180,000 by the city of Las Vegas for running an illegal Airbnb. 
• Oregon engineer Xin Tao said he bought the house as an investment property to rent out longer term. 
• Tao said his tenant rented it out on Airbnb and the city didn't say daily fines were adding up.

In November, the city of Las Vegas issued a $180,000 fine against a homeowner who officials say ran an unauthorized Airbnb near the Las Vegas strip.

The homeowner, however, told Business Insider he believes he is the victim of a scam run by the tenant renting his house at the time.