ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES GUILTY PLEA OF HUDSON VALLEY BUILDER WHO RIPPED OFF PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS
Christopher Marnell stole more than $350,000 from families, never built houses
New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the guilty plea from a Hudson Valley builder who took more than $350,000 from several area families to build houses, and then used the money for other purposes without building the homes.
Christopher Marnell, 47 of West Main Street in Stony Point, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to four counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (class C felony) and one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (class D felony). Marnell must pay restitution of $351,650. He will be sentenced October 22 and could face as much as 15 years in prison.
"Families paid this individual to build homes for them, but were left with absolutely nothing in return and now the builder must pay the price," said Attorney General Cuomo.
Marnell, owner of the now defunct Marnell Homes of Lakeridge, Inc., was indicted May 5 with stealing more than $350,000 from five families that paid him to build single-family homes in Lakeridge Estates in the Town of Wawayanda. The homes were never built and Marnell used the money toward other construction projects and for personal purposes.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Emmanuel Nneji of the Attorney General's Criminal Prosecutions Bureau. The case was investigated by the New York State Police and Investigator Dennis Churns of the Attorney General's Investigations Bureau.