An Alabama guy was hired to build a house in Walton County, Florida, and is accused of embezzling over $200,000 there. Currently facing criminal charges is Dadeville resident Michael Scott Barnes, 59.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation contacted the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in August 2023 regarding a complaint concerning Barnes, which sparked the inquiry.
The victim engaged Barnes as a general contractor in March 2022 to construct a Santa Rosa Beach home for their family.
The victim gave Barnes about $1 million, but after a few months of work, hundreds of thousands of cash vanished and the project was almost completely abandoned.
After being compelled to select a new contractor, the victim informed FDBPR about Barnes.
Investigators found that Barnes had embezzled $262,130 in victim-paid construction payments. Barnes was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the whereabouts of the money, and it was never returned.
On February 1st, a warrant was issued for Barnes.
Following several attempts to get Barnes to turn himself in, investigators contacted the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office on February 9th and asked that they place him under arrest. Barnes was arrested that same day.
Barnes is being jailed in the Walton County Jail on a $15,000 bond after being extradited to Florida on Thursday.
