ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — The owner of the now defunct Port St. Lucie Properties was denied bond reduction after being arrested by U.S. Marshals earlier this year.
This week a St. Lucie County judge refused to lower the bond for Mark Montalto. He is accused of taking money from homeowners and never completing the work.
WPTV Investigative Reporter Dave Bohman's investigation resulted in the arrest of a Treasure Coast home builder.
Montalto was arrested in April on 46 charges, including grand theft and misapplication of construction funds. A judge set the 62-year-old’s bond at $2.7 million.
Investigators said the charges are connected to 21 homeowners within Port St. Lucie city limits who filed fraud complaints. Victims told WPTV they never had their work completed — and in two cases — Port St. Lucie properties did not even pull required permits, investigators said.
Montalto requested his bond be reduced this week but a judge decided to keep it at $2.7 million.
Bohman interviewed dozens of homeowners who claimed Montalto failed to pay contractors which led to liens being placed on their homes.
The sheriff’s office tells us its investigation is ongoing.
Read more of WPTV's coverage below:
WPTV Investigates
'Thank God': Port St. Lucie Properties owner arrested on outstanding warrant
WPTV Investigates
More home buyers hit with liens on property connected to Treasure Coast builder
WPTV Investigates
Homeowners blame builder for allegedly failing to pay contractors
WPTV Investigates
5 lawsuits filed against Port St. Lucie builder
WPTV Investigates
Probe of Treasure Coast builder expands amid fraud allegations
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Treasure Coast homebuilder accused of grand theft, not completing projects
WPTV Investigates
