Houston Custom Builder Faces FBI Lawsuit Alleging Fraud of $1.5M
Houston custom home builder Brett Michael Detamore faces another lawsuit for fraud, this time for allegedly fraudulently obtaining $1.5 million through false invoices to banks holding construction loans for his custom home projects. The FBI and West University Place Police Department, the two entities that conducted the investigation, allege he then used those funds for personal use. Lawsuits claim that personal use was for a "lavish lifestyle," including Super Bowl tickets, a $1 million home, and a $100,000 vehicle.
The FBI began investigating Detamore, owner of Detamore Development, in November 2023 because the custom builder faced several lawsuits from lenders, material suppliers, a former employee, and past clients alleging fraud.
Detamore also captured local headlines when he disappeared in June 2023. The West University Place Police Department stated the disappearance appeared “pre-planned," and included finding Detamore’s truck on fire.
Detamore’s 2023 Disappearance
Detamore was reported missing by his wife on June 21. Twenty miles from his home, Detamore’s Dodge Ram truck was found burning. Witnesses noted a man walking away from the burning vehicle, reported local news station KHOU.
Detamore went missing for six days and was found in San Antonio. Upon being found, police noted that Detamore appeared “disheveled.” He was then taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Police concluded that Detamore's truck fire was started intentionally. After the builder's disappearance, several lawsuits were filed alleging fraud and breaches of contract.
A Record of Lawsuits
Shortly before the custom builder's disappearance, a New York-based lender Novus Capital Funding filed a suit against Detamore on June 23, 2023, claiming the lender provided $150,000 under agreement for Detamore to repay through daily revenue. The suit claims that weeks later, Detamore ceased making payments.
Similarly, another lender, Wynwood Capital Group, filed a breach of contract suit against Detamore on June 14, 2023, because Detamore allegedly stopped daily payments after receiving a $100,000 merchant cash advance.
In October 2023, two clients filed a lawsuit against Detamore alleging theft and fraud. They claim Detamore had been hired to build their custom home, but the home was not constructed. They request monetary relief of $1 million.
Another client also filed a suit in October 2023, stating they hired Detamore to construct and manage investment properties, but instead, the lawsuit states the custom builder would “take out periodic money draws that were supposed to be used for construction and materials for the Homes. In reality, Defendants misappropriated and stole much of the cash that was supposed to be used to complete the construction of the Homes.”
In the same suit, a former long-time employee said Detamore fired him then falsely accused the employee of theft and other misconduct. The suit says the employee “worked tirelessly to try to help Detamore succeed,” even using his own funds for building materials. In addition, the employee claims Detamore falsely told friends and business contacts that the employee stole funds.
Also in October 2023, Western Pacific Building Materials sued Detamore and clients of three properties for failure to pay for building materials valued at more than $41,000.
In November 2023, six clients filed suit against Detamore for monetary relief of $1 million. The suit claims the plaintiffs invested up to $550,000 to purchase and/or develop six properties that they hired Detamore to work on.
The lawsuit alleges the custom builder and his wife used the funds for their “lavish lifestyle, which included attending high-dollar professional sporting events (i.e., the Superbowl and World Series), purchasing a million-dollar home, and purchasing an expensive Dodge Ram TRX truck (approximately valued around $100,000)."
Regarding Detamore’s disappearance months prior, the suit alleges Detamore “attempted to disappear to avoid his and Detamore Development’s financial obligations.”
In April 2024, building materials supplier Ferguson filed suit against Detamore for failure to pay a sum of over $38,000 for fixtures related to two of Detamore’s projects.
Detamore is set to appear in federal court on August 12. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine in addition to full restitution to his clients.