After a long and very intensive investigation, a Cape Coral man is arrested for swindling over $700,000 in a now defunct business.

The Cape Coral Police took several reports in 2017 in reference to Southern Premier Homes, LLC regarding fraud claims. A Cape Coral Police Financial Crimes Unit detective was assigned to the investigation. 

Each victim reported that they contracted with Southern Premier Homes, LLC and were in the process of building homes with the company. The victims had given varying amounts of money to the company, which were intended for building needs. The victim’s reported that they dealt directly with the owner of the business, Christopher Paul Cheney (W/M, DOB: 03/29/1978, 5505 Merlyn LN, Cape Coral). In each case, the victims reported that the monies that were provided were not used as intended and they were unable to recoup any money back.

It was determined that beginning in 2016 and continuing until around June 2017, Christopher Paul Cheney engaged in a systematic and ongoing course of conduct with the intent to defraud multiple parties to obtain monies by false pretenses, representations, promises or intentional misrepresentations of a future act with Southern Premier Homes, LLC which caused victims to incur of a loss of more than $703,000. 

The Cape Coral Police detective completed the intensive investigation and filed for a warrant through the State Attorney’s Office which was ultimately approved. Cheney was located at his residence, arrested, and taken to the Lee County Jail.

Cheney was charged with Fraud-Swindle – Obtain Property 50K or greater.