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Jesse LaCoste Of Cantonment Convicted Of Grand Theft, Contractor Fraud
October 17, 2025
An Escambia County jury deliberated for just over an hour Thursday before convicting embattled contractor Jesse Wayne LaCoste of Cantonment of grand theft and contractor fraud, both second degree felonies.
He now faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 11 and remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
LaCoste was originally indicted on one count of racketeering and two counts of organized fraud.
The indictment alleged that between June 2018 and August 2022, LaCoste unlawfully managed LaCoste Construction Group, LLC and LaCoste General Contractors LLC by engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity, involving forgery, perjury, false official statements, theft, and insurance fraud.
According to investigators, LaCoste allegedly defrauded homeowners, their insurance companies, subcontractors and suppliers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties of more than $2 million. LaCoste also allegedly forged and falsified applications to obtain his county and state contractor licenses.
LaCoste’s brother-in-law, Matthew Banks, is awaiting trial on similar racketeering and other contracting-related charges.
Comments
6 Responses to “Jesse LaCoste Of Cantonment Convicted Of Grand Theft, Contractor Fraud”
While they both may be 2nd degree felonies with max sentences of 15 years each, in the modern world of judicial sentencing, there is a 99.99% change they will run concurrently. Hopefully the judge will see fit to give him 15 years on one of the charges so he can go away for 12 years, 9 months.
The state of Florida division of business and professional regulations has a recovery fund for homeowners defrauded by state licensed contractors. Anyone defrauded by him or Banks should look into it. You can go to the Florida DBPR website and find the information.
Will anybody recover their losses ; the chances of recovery are slim to none . Maybe some of the victims should get on board reviewing contractor complaints because this thievery should have been stopped along time ago .
I’m left wondering if the “defrauded homeowners, their insurance companies, subcontractors and suppliers” will ever recover their losses?
He was a thief to begin with. He didn’t just turn into one. It didn’t matter who he stole from, young or old. This evil person deserves to serve 30 years, if not more. No telling what else he’s done to others.
Well, you may get away with it for a while, but at some point, the devil WILL get his due. I pray for this man, maybe this is where he needs to be to get his soul straight with God.