Seattle Developer Faces 20 Felony Charges For Allegedly Pocketing $600K In Downpayments On Projects That Remain Unfinished

In Seattle, Washington, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reports:

• A South Seattle developer accused of defrauding investors pleaded not guilty Monday to 20 felony charges filed against him. Laurance Anthone, owner of MA Quik Construction, stands accused of bilking investors out of about $600,000 by selling space in prospective projects that were never completed. On Aug. 5, King County prosecutors charged Anthone with 10 counts of securities fraud and 10 counts of first-degree theft, all felonies.

• Anthone, 44, of Federal Way, previously faced civil suits from several of his investors, who accused him in six separate schemes occurring from early 2003 to August 2005. In most instances, investors said Anthone took down payment, then refused to return the money when construction failed to commence. So far, the plaintiffs have been awarded $607,000 in damages through the civil actions.

For more, see South Seattle developer denies bilking investors (20 felony charges filed against Anthone).

For other posts on builders/contractors allegedly stiffing their customers, go here, go here, and go here. contractors stiff subs customers yelbow