Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Brett Michael Detamore, aged 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks to 51 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Detamore was also ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to more than ten victims.
Detamore, who operated under the name Detamore Development LLC as a custom home builder, misused construction funds for personal gain. He pleaded guilty on August 23, 2024, to fraudulently obtaining at least $1.5 million intended for private residential construction.
In his scheme, Detamore submitted false invoices to banks that held construction loans for single-family homes he was contracted to build. The fraudulent invoices led the banks to transfer funds into accounts controlled by Detamore, which he then used for personal expenses.
During the court hearing, several victims testified about the financial harm and breach of trust they experienced due to Detamore's actions.
Detamore is allowed to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility that will be determined later.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the West University Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Lansden and Suzanne Elmilady.
