Guilty Plea by Oklahoma Builder in Repair Fraud Case

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt says a Muskogee builder pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts related to fraudulent home construction and is to pay $82,000 in restitution.

A judge sentenced 36-year-old Jason Priest to two years in prison with 13 years suspended, during which he’ll be under Corrections Department monitoring.

Prosecutors say Priest owned JMP Buildings and Muskogee Barn Company and allegedly signed contracts and accepted payment to build barns or outbuildings for homeowners.

But prosecutors say Priest didn’t complete the jobs at homes in in Lincoln, Caddo, Canadian, Pottawatomie, Hughes, Pawnee, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Wagoner, Garfield, Payne and Creek counties.