Custom-home builder indicted in theft ring
The owner of an Oklahoma company that custom builds high-dollar homes has been accused of involvement in an organized interstate theft ring.
Dennis Lee, owner of Richardson Homes LLC, is one of six defendants indicted by a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City. He is denying wrongdoing.
The Tuttle-based company has become widely known from its commercials that feature the saying, “Let our family build
your family’s home.”
Lee, 43, of Newcastle, is charged with four counts — conspiracy to transport stolen goods across state lines, possession of a stolen tractor, possession of a stolen golf cart and illegal possession of firearms.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to years in prison and fined thousands of dollars.
Grand jurors allege in the indictment that the “conspirators” last year stole tractors, golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, utility task vehicles, roughterrain vehicles and riding lawn mowers in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Also stolen was an $18,000 pickup from Texas and a flatbed trailer from Kansas, according to the indictment.
Grand jurors alleged some of the stolen property was taken to a Richardson Homes location in south Oklahoma City for storage until it could be sold.
Grand jurors allege Lee possessed rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers last November illegally because he has a felony conviction in his past. Lee has a 2009 conviction for drug possession, records show.
The indictment was filed Feb. 22 but not made public until Wednesday when one defendant, Amanda Jeanne Czermak, 35, of Chickasha, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy count for her role in the theft ring.
Lee’s attorneys were reviewing the indictment Wednesday for the first time.
“Dennis certainly denies that he did anything illegal,” defense attorney Scott Adams said. “What we’re trying to do is just figure out why it got to this stage. He’s more concerned about taking care of the people he’s currently building homes for and for his reputation in the community. And we’ll get to the bottom of it. And we’ll take care of it here shortly.”
Also indicted were Dakotah Henderson, 27, of Chickasha; Dakota Epperly, 30, of Oklahoma City; Auston Slater, 28, of Mustang; and David Aduddell, 65, of Oklahoma City. Each faces one or more counts related to stolen property.
The break that led to the discovery of the theft ring came last July when a lawn mower and four-wheeler stolen in Kansas showed up for sale on Craigslist in Oklahoma City, police said. Sheriff’s deputies in Kansas notified Oklahoma City police about the listing.
Police officers then posed as buyers and arrested Henderson, Epperly and Czermak.
Czermak confessed after her arrest, according to a court affidavit. Her confessions led to the recovery of more than $160,000 in property she “admits she is responsible for stealing,” one investigator reported.
Czermak admitted in court Wednesday that she primarily was a lookout for a boyfriend but sometimes helped load the stolen property. She said property was brought back to Richardson Homes LLC for storage. She said she was given food, shelter and money for drugs for her participation.
Czermak will be sentenced at a later date.