Stafford contractor charged with stealing $600K from investors September 10, 2010
Posted by jefhenninger in News.Tags: theft by deception
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David K. Haugland of Beachview Avenue in the Manahawkin section, was arrested at his home Wednesday morning by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Secret Service and Stafford Police. He has been charged with second-degree theft by deception, for allegedly defrauding investors of $600,000.
Haugland is a building contractor with Haugland & Sons Construction, located at 297 Route 72 in West Manahawkin. He would allegedly take money from investors for prospective homes he said he was going to build and sell, informing them via contract that he was the record owner of the properties, then fail to pay the investors back. Nine investors, who were allegedly taken for $600,000, have been identified. They have discovered the illegal activity has been occurring since at least 2007 and authorities are looking for more possible alleged victims.
How much of this was really theft remains to be seen. I know from my practice that the alleged victims sometimes have too much control over the investigation. If these investors were all connected to each other, they could get together to make a business dispute seem like a criminal act. I say that because that is what happened in one case that I had. One person got five other people together to claim that my client took their money. However, four of them never even asked for their money back! Luckily, the judge dismissed the case.
Story is here.
White Collar Crime News 
What is the latest on this?
Probably nothing. Its only been about 2 months. These cases move very slowly and many times you do not get an update as to the outcome.
Settle out of court and avoid criminal charges I suppose?
Well its in court already. Might be a little late for that. Not too many people that allegedly steal that amount of money hold onto it. Thus, a settlement to even stay out of prison could be tough.
I went to School with this guy, saw Him this past summer. He is NOT a nice man.
I know a few people that got bad vibes from him.
It’s been a few years now. Any resolution on this case that you know of?