Pensacola, FL — The brother-in-law of embattled Northwest Florida contractor Matthew Banks is preparing for his own trial on serious contractor fraud charges spanning Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Jesse LaCoste is accused of orchestrating a large-scale scheme through his company, LaCoste Construction Group, involving racketeering, organized fraud, and theft. Jury selection for his trial was scheduled for October 13, with prosecutors alleging LaCoste took customer payments and failed to complete contracted work.
LaCoste’s attorney, Todd Early, told the News Journal that the case “is not as cut and dry as they want you to think it is.”
In November 2023, an Escambia County grand jury indicted LaCoste under Florida’s RICO Act and for organized fraud — both first-degree felonies. Investigators claim LaCoste used his business to commit forgery, perjury, false statements, theft, and insurance fraud, defrauding homeowners, insurers, and subcontractors of over $2 million.
Homeowner Carol Bergeron said she lost more than $100,000 after hiring LaCoste to repair her Pensacola Beach home damaged during Hurricane Sally in 2020. She alleged the work was overpriced and incomplete, forcing her to sell the property “as is” due to mounting financial losses.
Another couple, James and Joan Mitchell, said they were left nearly $400,000 in debt after LaCoste failed to begin construction on their new home in 2022.
The Office of the State Attorney has also opened four additional cases against LaCoste, involving grand theft, contractor fraud, and insurance fraud.
Meanwhile, his brother-in-law, Matthew Banks, faces separate but similar allegations. Prosecutors say Banks stole over $5 million from more than 150 victims between 2019 and 2022 through Banks Construction LLC. He faces multiple charges including fraud and RICO violations, with a court appearance scheduled for November 5.
Both men are accused of exploiting homeowners and insurance systems, leaving a trail of financial and emotional damage across Northwest Florida.
