St. Louis, Missouri - An area home builder
and his business partner have been indicted on various fraud charges
involving their construction and sale of custom luxury homes, United
States Attorney Ray Gruender announced today.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Social Security
Administration-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States
Attorneys Michael Reap and John Bodenhausen are handling the case
for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
JEFFREY THOMAS, 36, of the 300 block of Autumn Creek Drive, Valley
Park, was indicted by a federal grand jury on three felony counts
of mail fraud, one felony count of wire fraud and two felony counts
of money laundering. CARLTON DINWIDDIE, 39, of East St. Louis, was
indicted on one felony count of mail fraud and one felony count of
misuse of a social security number.
If convicted, the mail and wire fraud charges carry a maximum penalty
of twenty years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000, per count; the
money laundering charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years and/or
a fine of $250,000, per count; and the misuse of a social security
number count carries a maximum penalty of five years and/or a fine
of $250,000.
According to the indictment, Thomas owned, operated or directed
businesses for the construction and sale of luxury homes. Thomas
purported to build homes on lots in subdivisions that were developed
by others, and also owned and operated businesses for developing
entire subdivisions. The businesses owned by, operated by or affiliated
with Thomas include: Thomas Homes, Inc.; Thomas Home Building Corporation;
Thomas Construction Company; Thomas Development; Times Square LLC;
Dream Homes LLC and Chesterfield Landing, LLC.
The indictment alleges that Thomas accepted payments from three
buyers to build a house on the same lot in St. Louis County, failing
to disclose to the later buyers the other buyer's interest in that
property. Despite receiving over $500,000 from these buyers, Thomas
never completed the home for any of these buyers. Thomas and Dinwiddie
are also charged with defrauding another buyer of $40,000 that the
buyer paid to them for a lot and home in a proposed subdivision in
St. Louis County. According to the indictment, the defendants converted
the $40,000 to their own uses.
The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and
each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. |
www.socialsecurity.gov
