A man arrested in 2018 after a lengthy fraud investigation by the Cape Coral Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit took a plea deal this week and was sentenced to prison.

Christopher Cheney (W/M, DOB: 3-29-78) pled no contest to one count of Scheme to Defraud (1st degree Felony) and was adjudicated guilty. He received a 21-month prison sentence followed by 10 years probation.

Cheney took somewhere in the amount of $700,000 to build homes through his business Southern Premier Homes, LLC. The complete 2018 press release detailing Cheney’s crime and his arrest can be found here.

Cheney will also be:

• Prohibited from application for or hold a contractor’s license, nor work under a “qualifier”
• Prohibited from application or appointment as an officer, manager or member of any entity licensed by the State of Florida Department of Corporations.
• Prohibited from working in any financially-related field
• Prohibited from having signatory authority on any bank accounts, except his own personal account.

Cheney’s case and restitution owed by the numbers:

• Total amount of restitution due to the victims: $569,303.09
• Total amount for CCPD Cost of Investigation: $4,073.41
• Total amount of State Attorney’s Office Cost of Prosecution: $1,327.85
• Additional court fees and costs

“This case was a lengthy process from start to finish. I am very pleased with this outcome for the victims, and thanks to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case.” ~Detective Meghan Hicks, CCPD Financial Crimes Unit

Original News Release: Cape Coral Man Who Swindled Over $700,000 Is Arrested

State Attorney’s Office Release