Port St. Lucie business owner arrested for construction fraud

www.wpbf.com, Vanessa Laurent, April 23, 2025

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —

A local business owner is facing serious charges after a nearly two-year investigation into construction fraud.

On April 23, 2025, 61-year-old Mark Montalto, owner of Port St. Lucie Properties Inc., was arrested at his job in Martin County by U.S. marshals.

Police say 21 people hired Montalto’s company to build homes and paid him thousands, sometimes over $100,000, but he did not pay subcontractors or complete the work. In some cases, permits were never even filed. This led to liens being placed on the victims’ homes.

The investigation covered contracts signed between December 2021 and September 2023. Montalto now faces 46 charges, including grand theft, fraud and racketeering. Some charges involve older adult victims.

He's been charged with

• 21 counts of Misapplication of Construction Funds

• 1 count of Grand Theft, 1st Degree $100,000 or more

• 2 counts of Failure of a Contractor to Perform Work

• 1 count of Crimes Against Person – Aggravated While Collar Crime 20+ Victims, $50,000+

• 1 count of Public Order Crimes – Conducted/Participated in Enterprise Thru Racketeering

• 13 counts of Grand Theft, 2nd Degree, $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000

• 3 counts of Grand Theft, 3rd Degree, $750 or more, but less than $20,000

• 1 count of Theft from Persons 65 years or Older, 1st Degree $50,000 or more

• 2 counts of Theft from Persons 65 years or Older, 2nd Degree $10,000 or more

• 1 count of Theft from Persons 65 years or Older, 3rd Degree, $300 or more, but less than $10,000

He is currently being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on a $2.77 million bond.

News article: https://www.wpbf.com/article/port-st-lucie-arrested-construction-fraud/64565357