HOUSTON – Brett Detamore, the former West University home developer who allegedly faked his disappearance in June 2023, has been federally charged with one count of wire fraud, according to federal court records obtained by KPRC 2.
Detamore has been summoned to appear in federal court Aug. 12 at 2 p.m., when a decision is expected to be made about whether he’ll be kept in custody or released with conditions, records show.
“It doesn’t do anything to make them whole. They’re still out millions of dollars. But this is a day they’ve been waiting for that they all long suspected would ultimately be the result,” said Butch Boyd, a civil attorney who represents five families who claim Detamore stole millions.
According to court records, Detamore operated as a custom home builder under the name Detamore Development LLC. He’s accused of fraudulently obtaining at least $1.5 million for his personal use by misusing funds intended to construct clients’ dream homes.
BREAKING: Brett Detamore, former West University developer who allegedly faked his disappearance last summer, is now federally charged with wire fraud, according to records obtained by @KPRC2. He's expected to appear in federal court Aug. 12.
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) August 2, 2024
BACKGROUND: https://t.co/ouPfVrf9R5
What happened
Detamore was reported missing June 21, 2023, before being found safe days later at a bus stop in San Antonio, law enforcement said at the time. His Ram TRX truck, estimated to be valued at $100,000, was found burned out in Bear Creek Park during the exhaustive search for him.
The search included a big law enforcement response and volunteers from Texas EquuSearch.
“Early on, our guys were able to develop evidence that show that that he probably left on his own,” West U Police Chief Ken Walker said at a press conference on June 27, 2023.
Law enforcement had suspicions and soon civil lawsuits stacked up.
According to some of the lawsuits, Detamore faked his disappearance and is accused of defrauding investors and home buyers, instead using money to fund his personal “lavish lifestyle” of jet-setting and luxury that included big time sporting events, concerts, and exotic vacations.
Back in November, West U Police told KPRC 2 the FBI had taken over the investigation.
According to the federal charging document, Detamore’s scheme to defraud ran from Oct. 2022 until June 2023.
He is accused of entering into a construction contract with a victim to build a single-family home. The victim got a construction loan from Prosperity Bank, and Detamore then submitted false invoices to the bank not for the construction of the home, but rather his personal benefit.
In one instance, Detamore allegedly submitted a fraudulent cabinet invoice for an entirely different construction property, records state, even though the cabinet company never bid on the property and had never done any work for Detamore Development LLC.
The victim ended up having to pay an extra $85,513 to vendors to perform real work on the home that never was paid for by Detamore, according to records.
The federal wire fraud charge was filed by information as opposed to a grand jury indictment.
“It’s not very common at all. This is not the norm in federal court,” said Joe Vinas, president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.
He’s not connected to the case but said the charge coming by information as opposed to indictment could speed up the next steps.
“It indicates that they’ve already gone through some negotiation processes, and there’s a likelihood, in my opinion, that a plea deal has probably already been struck or is very close to [being struck],” Vinas said.
While the feds right now only allege Detamore fraudulently obtained $1.5 million, Boyd said his clients’ losses are estimated to be around $5 million.
“It should potentially increase his sentence based on not just the loss he’s charged with, but actual loss or even the intended loss of any schemes he pleads guilty to,” Vinas said, noting it’s not yet clear how Detamore will plea. “What this actual loss and intended loss would do would ratchet up the punishment.”
Tate Williams, an attorney for Detamore in the federal criminal case, declined to comment. KPRC 2 knocked at an address listed for Detamore in court records, but no one answered the door.
Detamore and/or his development company have been sued six times since his disappearance last June, according to Harris County court records.
He’s facing a maximum of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000, according to records.