Birmingham Builder Cecil Sanford Hit With $1.2M Fraud Sentence

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The grim tale of a builder’s deceit has reached its chilling conclusion as Cecil Wayne Sanford, 58, of Birmingham, Alabama, has been sentenced to 58 months in prison for his $1.2 million-dollar home building fraud. U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent Carlton L. Peeples announced the justice served on Monday.

The defendant, Cecil Wayne Sanford, was also ordered to pay nearly $1.27 million in forfeiture and restitution following his April 2024 guilty plea on wire fraud charges. Sanford, who operated Stone Pointe Builders, LLC, is accused of promising homeowners dream homes but delivering little more than broken promises and empty bank accounts.

Between 2020 and early 2022, over a dozen victims in the Birmingham area entrusted Sanford with their hard-earned money for promised home construction. However, these victims were left with nothing but unfinished projects, despite significant withdrawals from their construction loans and invoices submitted by Sanford for non-existent expenses. When confronted, Sanford offered hollow reassurances about his financial management, all while siphoning off funds into his personal bank account.

Sanford’s deception reached a head in February 2022 when he abruptly closed Stone Pointe Builders after collecting over $27,000 from a family for a construction contract. He then transferred $10,000 to his own account before vanishing, leaving the victims with no hope of reclaiming their investments.

The FBI conducted an extensive investigation into Sanford’s activities, assisted by the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. B. Ward successfully prosecuted the case against the former builder.

This sentence serves as a stark reminder to homeowners to exercise caution when selecting contractors and building companies. The justice system has delivered a severe blow to Sanford’s fraudulent enterprise, but for the victims, the damage is irreparable.