Avon contractor awaits sentencing after guilty plea in Northeast Ohio schemes totaling nearly $3 million
Case centers on home-construction draws, alleged forged documents and unpaid contractors
A 51-year-old Avon contractor is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, March 23, 2026, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty in a fraud case authorities say involved two separate schemes totaling about $2.93 million.
The defendant, Jeffrey Crawford, is the owner of Cleveland Custom Homes. Prosecutors have said the conduct under investigation began in July 2021 and involved residential construction projects in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, as well as separate investment solicitations across multiple Northeast Ohio counties.
How the home-building scheme was described
Investigators allege Crawford entered into agreements with clients to build three homes valued at approximately $1.3 million, $650,000 and $600,000. In typical construction lending, banks release money in stages after receiving paperwork confirming that specific phases of work have been completed and that subcontractors have been paid.
Prosecutors said Crawford forged and submitted documents to lenders indicating that work phases were complete and that contractors had been paid when, authorities allege, the homes were incomplete and workers had not been paid. Prosecutors further allege that subsequent loan draws were then used for other projects or for personal expenditures.
Separate investment allegations
A second scheme described by prosecutors began in February 2023. Authorities said three individuals in Cuyahoga, Lorain and Trumbull counties provided funds to Cleveland Custom Homes as investments after being promised repayment with profit.
Those investments were described as $50,000, $300,000 and $80,000, totaling $430,000. Prosecutors said the investors were not repaid and that some were given checks that later bounced.
Charges, plea and restitution
Crawford was indicted in September 2025 on multiple felony counts tied to the two alleged schemes, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, tampering with records, forgery, securing writings by deception, passing bad checks, grand theft and money laundering. Authorities said the two schemes involved six victims, and investigators publicly signaled they believed additional victims could exist.
In February 2026, Crawford pleaded guilty to a series of felony offenses, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated theft, tampering with records, securing records by deception, passing bad checks and additional money-laundering-related prohibitions. The court also ordered restitution to victims as part of the case proceedings.
- Defendant: Jeffrey Crawford, 51, Avon
- Business: Cleveland Custom Homes
- Alleged combined loss: about $2.93 million
- Sentencing date: March 23, 2026
- Sentencing judge: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Carl Mazzone
The sentencing hearing is expected to address the financial harm alleged in the case, restitution terms already ordered by the court, and other statutory sentencing factors under Ohio law.