Defendant William Burgess, arrested following a State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit and State Attorney’s Office Construction Fraud Task Force investigation, has been sentenced. Burgess was sentenced to 5 years in prison followed by 15 years of probation for one count of Organized Fraud Over $50,000. He was also ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution due to damages caused by his scheme, as any work that was completed had to be redone.
Assistant State Attorney J.D. Miller, State Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit Chief, prosecuted the case.
The case originated at the Collier County Clerk’s Office. The Collier County Clerk Office of Inspector General found fraud related to contracts and building permits. The defendant entered an agreement with the owner of a construction and management company based in Tampa, to assist him in getting jobs in Collier County.
Burgess, who is not licensed, forged the name of a licensed contractor on building permit applications, accepting jobs, and taking payment, without the contractor’s knowledge.
The State received evidence that the notary employed by Burgess notarized documents without the witnesses present, at the direction of the defendant. Burgess created similar sounding companies defrauding innocent individuals, who entered into contracts with him, but the work was not done.
Burgess turned himself into the Collier County Sheriff’s Office after a capias warrant was issued by the State Attorney’s Office in August 2022.
The State Attorney’s Office Construction Fraud Task Force was formed by State Attorney Amira Fox to put experienced prosecutors and investigators together to handle construction fraud cases.