Homeowners Deceived by Unscrupulous Builder Prevail, Rebuild Their Dream Homes

In a shocking case of fraud and embezzlement, the owner of a prominent Florida construction company, Spencer Calvert of the Pineapple Corporation, has been charged with a litany of crimes, including duping over a dozen Nocatee homeowners out of millions of dollars. Among the victims were the stars of the hit Bravo show 'Below Deck Mediterranean,' Captain Sandy Yawn and her wife Leah, who found themselves in a nightmare scenario after their dream home was left unfinished. However, through determination and perseverance, the Yawns and other affected homeowners have managed to reclaim their properties and move forward, with the help of local contractors who stepped in to support them.

Turning Adversity into Triumph: How Wronged Homeowners Reclaimed Their Slice of the Sunshine State

The Pineapple Corporation's Downfall: A Trail of Deceit and Misappropriated Funds

Prosecutors have accused Calvert, the 52-year-old owner of the Pineapple Corporation, of embezzling construction funds, committing grand larceny, and orchestrating an elaborate scheme to defraud his clients. The investigation revealed that a staggering .2 million was stolen or misappropriated from homeowners, with an additional .4 million still owed to subcontractors for work performed. Calvert's personal spending habits were particularly egregious, with over 0,000 in "loans" from the company and more than 0,000 in salary payments, all while leaving homes unfinished and contractors unpaid.

The Yawns' Ordeal: From Dream Home to Nightmare

Among the victims of Calvert's misdeeds were Captain Sandy Yawn and her wife Leah, who had invested .6 million in their dream home at the Twenty Mile community in Nocatee. Their move-in was significantly delayed after the Pineapple Corporation abandoned the project, leaving them to take matters into their own hands. Leah Rae Yawn recounts the arduous process, saying, "I became our own contractor. We went to the building department, and they just kind of gave us a list of what we needed to do, and I just followed the checklist and all the inspections and the basics just to get our CO and get moved in. I'd say we had to pay an extra 6 to 0,000 just to get in here and get the basics done."

Uncovering the Extent of Calvert's Fraud

The fraud investigation report from the State Attorney's Office paints a disturbing picture of Calvert's misuse of company funds. Investigators found that a significant portion of the American Express charges made by Calvert, over 58%, were for personal expenses such as restaurants, sporting events, furniture stores, plane charters, and liquor purchases, rather than legitimate construction-related activities. The report also revealed that Calvert took substantial "loans" from the company without any documented terms, and used over 6,000 to fund his personal Bank of America account, disguised as American Express reimbursements.

Local Contractors Step Up to Support Affected Homeowners

Despite the challenges they faced, the Yawns and other Nocatee homeowners found solace in the support of local contractors who stepped in to help them navigate the aftermath. Derek Walton, the owner of Heritage Group Landscape Contractors, and DNS Service & Maintenance have been instrumental in assisting the homeowners with budgeting, cost-cutting, and the final touches to make their houses into homes. Walton expressed his satisfaction in "putting final pieces together to kind of help them make their house, a home."

Seeking Justice and Moving Forward

While the Yawns and other affected homeowners may not recover the funds they lost, they are determined to see justice served. Leah Rae Yawn's message to Calvert is clear: "He knows what he did. It's disgusting, it's wrong, and I think we've said enough how we feel about it, and I hope that he goes away for a long time for what he put us through." As the legal process unfolds, the Yawns are focusing on rebuilding their lives, with Leah recently opening a facial spa in Ponte Vedra, and finding solace in the progress made by their home.