Man sentenced to eight years of home confinement for construction fraud in Yauco and Guánica
Antonio Luis Cruz Batista received eight years of home confinement for defrauding customers of more than $73,000 in Yauco and Guánica.
Eight years of home confinement for housing construction fraud scheme
A man was sentenced on Wednesday to eight years of home confinement after admitting to defrauding customers of more than $73,000 through a scheme involving housing construction projects in Yauco and Guánica, according to telemundopr.com.
Antonio Luis Cruz Batista represented Modern Home's Gallery, Inc., a company that promoted its construction services through Facebook. After receiving payment from customers to start or advance the works, Cruz Batista failed to complete the contracted work.
One victim handed over $34,165 to build a residence in Yauco, but the construction remained incomplete. In another case, a woman paid $39,503 for a home in Guánica that was never built.
Judge Zahira Torres Moro ordered the convicted man to pay $147,336 in restitution, a sum equivalent to double the money received from both victims. If he fails to pay, Cruz Batista will have to enter prison.
The defendant pleaded guilty to four felonies: two charges of fraud in execution of works and two for aggravated illegal appropriation.
The Department of Justice noted that the man faces additional legal proceedings in different jurisdictions for similar offences.
The investigation was carried out by the Property Division of the Criminal Investigation Corps of Yauco.
Source: Google News PR — Crime