West U Developer Faces Federal Wire Fraud Charges. Michael Wynne Speaks with ABC 13
According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, A West University Place home builder who was reported missing last year is now facing federal wire fraud charges.
Brett Detamore, a husband and father of three, left his home in June 2023 and disappeared. His wife reported him missing and a frantic five-day search by volunteers and local law enforcement ensued.
On the sixth day, West University Place police revealed they believed his disappearance was staged, after he was found at a bus stop in San Antonio “a bit fazed and a bit disheveled.”
Since then, civil lawsuits claiming fraud and theft have been filed and now Detamore faces a criminal charge. Court documents allege Detamore fraudulently used money intended to build homes to accumulate at least $1.5 million for his own use.
State records state that a day before Detamore went missing he “continued to make false statements in furtherance of the fraudulent scheme,” and he allegedly submitted fraudulent bills to banks holding construction loans for single-family homes he had been authorized to build, according to Hamdani’s office.
Detamore’s first federal court appearance is set for Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. He has not been arrested and is only charged with one count, which is telling, according to Gregor Wynne Arney attorney Michael Wynne, a former federal prosecutor not associated with the case.
“A deal has been cut. There’s no question about that. It’s one count. The information shows it could have been many more, so there’s a deal,” he said.
Several former clients of Detamore’s have filed lawsuits after they were left financially devastated, with half-built homes and stolen funds.
Detamore could face up to 20 years in prison with a maximum $250,000 fine if convicted of wire fraud.
Attorney and former federal prosecutor Michael Wynne, who is not Detamore’s attorney, says to expect Detamore to plead guilty. “A deal has been cut. There’s no question about that. It’s a one count information, could have been many more. A deal’s already been cut. He’s given an opportunity to present himself pursuant to summons rather than arrest.”
