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AP Man Accused Of Defrauding Contractor
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Published: July 14, 2008
AVON PARK - An Avon Park maintenance man formerly employed as a subcontractor with Maronda Homes was free Friday on $43,000 bail, after he was arrested on charges of defrauding another subcontractor out of $43,827.26 by diverting his checks, according to a sheriff's arrest report.
Charles Michael Detore, 60, also known as "Chuck" of 2420 State Road 17 S., Avon Park, was booked into the Highlands County Jail on Thursday, on charges of grand theft $20,000 or more but less than $100,000, fraud - swindle obtaining property $20,000 or more but less than $50,000, fraud - impersonation by misrepresenting himself to commit personal ID fraud, forgery of or altering a bank bill, note, check or draft and fraud by issuing a false bank bill, note, check or draft.
According to a sheriff's arrest report, on May 5, James Gail Smith Jr., the owner of James Smith Jr. Painting, filed a complaint of suspected theft, forgery and fraud.
Smith Jr. told investigators he was a subcontractor for Maronda Homes and was introduced to the business by Detore. Detore reportedly told Smith Jr. that he was a middleman for Moronda Homes and asked him to work for Maronda, the report stated.
As compensation, Detore would charge Smith Jr. 10 percent commission per job, investigators reported. Smith Jr. told investigators he agreed to Detore's alleged deal and began working for Maronda Homes in February of 2007, the report stated.
About October 2007, Smith Jr. reported he learned Detore was not a middleman but a maintenance man working as a subcontractor, the report stated.
Smith Jr. reportedly also learned that Detore was intercepting his checks by having Maronda Homes send the checks to James G. Smith Jr. Painting at an Avon Park post office box, which Detore had opened, according to the report.
Smith Jr. told investigators the Postal Service would not let him shut down the post office box since he did not open the account, the report stated.
The victim told investigators that he never received a check from Maronda Homes, did not sign any checks made payable to him, nor did he give any of the checks to Detore, the report stated.
Investigators subpoenaed the copies of 16 checks deposited at Wachovia Bank into an account of Detore, the report stated.
On the back of the documents were endorsements of James Smith and Charles Detore and the words "pay to C&T Detore, L.L.C.," the report stated.
The checks totaled $114,893.67, the report stated, and information was reportedly verified through Maronda Homes' invoices.
Investigators further learned that Detore had written 21 checks payable to the victim totaling $59,380, leaving a balance of $55,513.26 minus a commission of $11,489 for what investigators called an estimated theft amount of $43,827.26, according to the report.
Deputies accused Detore of conducting "a systematic course of conduct to defraud the victim..."
Detectives discovered on May 29, Detore signed a contract terminating his work status with Maronda Homes. He received a final check from Maronda on June 3 for $9,107.20, the report stated.
Investigators stated that Detore agreed to meet with them for an interview on July 7, but he did not show up, the report stated. When investigators tried to contact Detore he handed his cell phone to his attorney who stated his client would not be speaking with them about the matter at that time, according to the report.
Joe Seelig can be reached at 863-386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com
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