Jesse Wayne LaCoste of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by the sitting Escambia County Grand Jury for the felony crimes of Racketeering (Count 1), and Organized Fraud (Count 2). The crimes charged are first degree felonies punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count.
The indictment was announced today by Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida.
The indictment alleges that between June 2018 and August 2022, LaCoste unlawfully conducted LaCoste Construction Group, LLC f/k/a LaCoste General Contractors LLC, through a pattern of racketeering activity, involving forgery, perjury, false official statements, theft, and insurance fraud.
The charges resulted from investigation of complaints of homeowners, business owners, subcontractors, and material suppliers, who contracted with LaCoste to provide repairs, renovations, new construction, and building material and services.
According to investigators, LaCoste allegedly defrauded homeowners, their insurance companies, and subcontractors and suppliers of more than $2 million. LaCoste also allegedly forged and falsified applications to obtain his county and state contractor licenses.
The State Attorney, Ginger Bowden-Madden, whose staff investigated and presented the case to the Grand Jury, said that she is committed to protect the rights of homeowners and business owners and bring those who victimize them to justice.