J(CMR) Frank Packer, contractor and owner of Titan Development Ltd. was arrested on June 23 for three charges in relation to the mismanagement of a house construction project. It is alleged that he misappropriated some $160,000 that was earmarked to build a house in North Side.
Packer was contracted back in October 2020 to build a house for a resident. The future homeowner paid an initial deposit of KYD $80,000. However, she got the runaround with Packer claiming that he did not receive the funds to his Bank of Butterfield account. The client then wired him an additional $80,000 only to find out weeks later that Packer has received both payments. He indicated to her there was no need to return the overpayment because he would be moving so quickly that the second payment would soon be due.
The total project cost was around $229,401.05.
Having numerous delays and concerns the client who resides overseas decided to have another local person keep an eye on Packer. They were reporting constant delays with the project with no explanation. Packer claimed that once Christmas came it was difficult to find workers but the project would begin in earnest in early 2021.
However, by April he removed all of the equipment from the site initially informing the homeowner that he has some issues with storing the items at the location because of a neighboring homeowner.
Packer then ghosted the owner and completely disappeared. The matter was reported to the police who discovered that Packer had spent all of the money by December 3 and left a trail of unpaid workers in his wake. He only spent $12,000 of the funds received on the project and did not even complete the foundation.
Although he was difficult to find, authorities eventually found him working at another construction company as a project manager. He has now been arrested on suspicion of theft, obtaining property by deception and transferring criminal property. Reports are that he and his wife have liquidated the company and sold all the assets of the business.
Packer is scheduled to give a police interview on July 14 and anyone with additional information that could assist the police should contact the Financial Crime Unit. The jilted homeowner has shared that she feels “distraught, hurt, angry and disappointed” in Packer's actions that have cost her immensely. She is uncertain how she will be able to recover from situations revealing that she is not a rich person and had saved considerably over many years to be able to build this home.
Packer is one of several contractors that have taken advance of homebuilders during the COVID-19 pandemic and more will be featured. Titan Development Ltd. was established in 2004. He was located in GFK Business Park off Godfrey Nixon Way. He is originally from Long Eaton in the United Kingdom.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
