Craig Mark Draper, Wire Fraud, Montana 2021

MISSOULA, Montana - Construction Company Owner Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Wire Fraud Scheme

Craig Mark Draper, 55, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for defrauding numerous customers in the Flathead Valley.

Draper, the owner of ADI Builders, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $543,859 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence.

The government alleged that Draper took money from customers for construction materials and failed to obtain the materials and complete the projects. The case involved 25 victims, including customers, vendors, and former employees, who suffered significant financial hardships due to Draper's actions.

Draper moved to the Flathead Valley in 2017 and formed ADI Builders. He started bidding on various jobs, including the construction of pole barns, shops, and residential remodels. In several instances, Draper provided invoices to customers for specific expenses associated with their projects, but failed to deliver the goods or services.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case and ordered Draper to be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service. The judge also dismissed nine other wire fraud counts and two money laundering counts under the terms of a plea agreement.

Draper's scheme involved taking money from customers for construction materials and using it for personal expenses, including paying a company in Iowa for trophies for car race winners, paying an outfitter in Utah, making cash withdrawals, and paying $9,500 to the Salish and Kootenai Tribes to lease their racetrack.

Draper admitted to sending an invoice to a customer for $59,002, which included $8,000 in charges for siding. The customer wired $59,002 to Draper, but never received the siding. The customer eventually paid the vendor directly for the siding included in Draper's invoice.

Draper's crimes had significant consequences for his victims, who suffered financial hardships and emotional distress as a result of his actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/flathead-valley-construction-company-owner-sentenced-70-months-prison-fraud-scheme