PENSACOLA, Fla. — Former Pensacola contractor Jesse LaCoste is back in court for trial this week.
LaCoste, 34, was indicted for racketeering and organized fraud over $50,000 in this case.
Last year, LaCoste was sentenced to 10 years in state prison after being convicted of contractor fraud and theft.
Court records show LaCoste is still facing trial in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in cases that accuse him of failing to complete work after his clients had paid.
MANAGEMENT & CULTURE (THE “TONE AT THE TOP”)
Fraud thrives in “sloppy” environments where leadership ignores the rules.
- The Fraud Triangle: For fraud to occur, three elements must be present: Pressure (the need for money), Rationalization (thinking “I deserve this”), and Opportunity (weak controls). You can only control the Opportunity.
- Whistleblower Hotline: Provide an anonymous way for staff to report “odd behavior.” Most internal frauds are caught via tips, not audits.
- Background Checks: Conduct credit and criminal record checks for all employees in financial or data-sensitive roles.
- Annual Ethics Training: Make sure every staff member knows that the company has a Zero Tolerance policy toward “borrowing” from petty cash or fudging overtime.