Better Built Homes owner charged with embezzlement

Historic City News was notified by media relations officer Kevin Kelshaw that the owner of a closed SR-207 business has been charged with eight counts of misappropriating construction funds between $1,000-$100,000 and one count of grand theft.

The eight victims reported losing about a half-million dollars.

According to Kelshaw, 43-year-old William Keith Leary owned and operated Better Built Homes in St Augustine, where customers say they made down payments for new modular homes that Leary had no intention of providing.

Sheriff’s investigator Hank Miller began an extensive investigation of the San Mateo resident at the end of January of this year after receiving eight separate complaints. The first case was reported in February of 2014 and the last case was reported in February of this year.

Allegedly Leary used the money he obtained as down payments knowing that those funds would be used to pay for other expenses in an attempt to prolong the impending closing of his business.

A warrant was issued for Leary’s arrest and he turned himself in to authorities. He was booked into the St Johns County jail on bonds totaling $45,000.