PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mark Montalto, the owner of the now defunct Port St. Lucie Properties was arrested Wednesday morning, the Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) said in a news release.
United States Marshals Task Force detained Montalto, 61, at about 10 a.m. at his place of employment located at 11500 SW Kanner Hwy in Martin County. Police said the arrest stems from an outstanding warrant from PSLPD for various property crimes relating to an investigation that lasted nearly two years.
WATCH: Victims speak to WPTV about arrest of Port St. Lucie Properties owner
Montalto faces 46 criminal counts, including 17 charges of grand theft, three counts of theft from persons over 65 years of age and one count of racketeering.
Twenty-one property owners are listed as victims in Montalto’s arrest affidavit, including Dorothy Calixte, who told WPTV, “Oh, thank God. That’s all I ask for. At this point, I need justice. That’s all I ask for is justice.”
Police said the investigation began in May 2023, when multiple fraud complaints were filed against Port St. Lucie Properties, Inc. and Montalto, the president of the company.
According to police, over the course of the investigation, 21 victims were identified who had contracted Port St. Lucie Properties, Inc. to build their homes, paid out draws to the company per contract, but were defrauded by Montalto in amounts ranging from several thousands of dollars to well over $100,000 as Montalto failed to pay his subcontractors.
WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE BELOW: Homebuilder accused of grand theft, not completing projects
WPTV Investigative Reporter Dave Bohman learned back in 2023 that owners of more than 100 properties in St. Lucie County were stuck with property liens that at one point totaled $3.7 million, forcing people who contracted the company to build their homes to pay up to hundreds of thousands of dollars extra or lose their property to foreclosure.
The contract dates ranged from December 2021 through September 2023, police said.. While some victims had their homes completed, other victims did not, and in two cases, permits were not even pulled by Port St. Lucie Properties, Inc. within the required 30 days after receiving funds per the contracts.
Montalto is being held at St. Lucie County Jail on $2,775,000 bond.
Below is the complete list of charges Montalto faces:
- 21 counts of misapplication of construction funds
- 1 count of grand theft in the 1st degree of $100,000 or more
- 2 counts of failure of a contractor to perform work
- 1 count of crimes against person, aggravated while collar crime of 20+ victims in the amount $50,000+
- 1 count of public order crimes, conducted/participated in enterprise through racketeering
- 13 counts of grand theft in 2nd degree of $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000
- 3 counts of grand theft in the 3rd degree of $750 or more, but less than $20,000
- 1 count of theft from persons 65 years or older in the 1st degree of $50,000 or more
- 2 counts of theft from persons 65 years or older, 2nd degree of $10,000 or more
- 1 count of theft from persons 65 years or older in the 3rd degree of $300 or more, but less than $10,000
Bohman first broke the story of homeowners and their burdens nearly two years ago, as a result of the property liens, and will have more details on WPTV.com as they become available. Watch WPTV today at 4 p.m. for reports on this story.
WPTV Investigative Reporter Dave Bohman's previous coverage on Port St. Lucie Properties:
WPTV Investigates
'I'm worried': Lien from builder leaves family fearing they'll be homeless
WPTV Investigates
5 lawsuits filed against Port St. Lucie builder
WPTV Investigates
Treasure Coast homebuilder accused of grand theft, not completing projects
WPTV Investigates
Probe of Treasure Coast builder expands amid fraud allegations
WPTV Investigates
More home buyers hit with liens on property connected to Treasure Coast builder
WPTV Investigates
