Former Pensacola Contractor Jesse LaCoste Sentenced To 30 Additional Years In Prison

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Former Pensacola contractor Jesse LaCoste was sentenced Monday to thirty years in prison for racketeering and contractor fraud, a sentence that will be added on top of the ten years he's already serving from a separate case last year.

The 34-year-old former contractor was found guilty Thursday on both charges. He received thirty years for each, though the sentences will run concurrently. Judge John Simon also ordered LaCoste to pay more than two million dollars in restitution to his victims. LaCoste claims he has no funds or assets left to pay, saying the money he received from clients was reinvested back into his company for other projects.

LaCoste and his company were accused of starting construction jobs, collecting payment, and then never finishing the work. He took the stand for nearly half an hour Monday morning, asking the judge for mercy before learning his sentence. "I'm not trying to shift blame, I'm not trying to do any of those things," LaCoste said. "I'm only trying to show the intention of my heart."

He said he had been trying to build a business, take care of his family, and serve the Pensacola community. LaCoste pushed back against the words "scam" and "fraud" being used throughout the trial, saying he never intended to harm anyone and that he suffered alongside those affected.

Prosecutors painted a different picture. The state presented more than 40 witnesses and 70 pieces of evidence during trial, with several victims saying they lost their life savings paying LaCoste for work that was never completed. Assistant State Attorney Paul Gillespie said county records show that of 22 projects LaCoste took on for Escambia County, only four were ever finished, with several others plagued by failed inspections and missing permits.

"He took from nearly every walk of life," Gillespie said. "The elderly, the young, the professional, the everyday man, men, women, black, white, from every demographic of our community, including firefighters, veterans."

Several victims spoke during Monday's sentencing hearing. LaCoste's attorney had asked for the minimum sentence of 69 months.

"I do find that this was an egregious set of circumstances and acts for persons who trusted their builder and took their money and they never saw it again or the results of their labor," Judge Simon said.

Court records show LaCoste still faces additional charges in cases pending in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.