HOUSTON – Former West University Place home developer Brett Detamore, who’s accused of faking his disappearance last summer, has pled guilty to a federal charge of wire fraud just days after entering a not guilty plea.
The 39-year-old appeared in court for a re-arraignment Friday morning. He’s now facing up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5.
According to prosecutors, the plea agreement will require Detamore to forfeit $1.5 million in illegally obtained money, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not explained exactly where that money will come from.
During Detamore’s first court appearance on Aug. 12, when he pled not guilty, his appearance was drastically different since his alleged “fake” disappearance, including a shaved beard, shorter haircut, and leaner build.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in a news release Friday that Detamore admitted to obtaining at least $1.5 million for personal use by misusing the funds intended initially for constructing private residences.
Detamore would create fake invoices to banks holding construction loans for the home he’d been contracted to build. He then took those invoices by the bank to send to his personal account for his own benefit.
According to civil lawsuits that have been filed, Detamore used the money to fund a luxurious lifestyle that included lavish trips and big-time sporting events. The civil proceedings are still pending.
Multiple law enforcement agencies and volunteers from Texas EquuSearch spent days searching for Detamore. The exhaustive effort resulted in the recovery of his burned-out truck, estimated to be worth $100,000, in Bear Creek Park. No charges were ever filed in that incident.
Detamore also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and full restitution to the victims.