Interstate 75 scammer sentenced

FORT MYERS — A federal judge sentenced Anthony Michael Defeo, 49, of Punta Gorda, to nine years and two months in prison for wire fraud in connection with Interstate 75 road-construction projects.

U.S. District Court Judge John Steele also ordered Defeo to pay $5.7 million to his victims as restitution.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, Defeo misrepresented to victim investors that he had lucrative contracts and purchase orders with a legitimate corporation engaged in asphalt paving, grading and services for roadway and civil construction projects. The victims thought they were investing in an opportunity involving a gravel pit and fill dirt to be used by road construction companies for I-75 improvements.

Defeo used companies that he controlled to obtain the victims' money. Rather than using the money as he represented, Defeo fraudulently diverted nearly $6.3 million for his own purposes. He failed to repay the investors.