Attorney General's News Release

July 21, 2008

Overland fence construction business owner pleads guilty to six felony counts of fraud on charges brought by Nixon

Clayton, Mo. - A suburban St. Louis man who defrauded area residents in the operation of a fence construction business pled guilty today to six felony counts of unlawful merchandising practices in a case prosecuted by Attorney General Jay Nixon. Daniel H. Cahill (DOB - 11/25/63), who operated Best Built Fence, made the plea in St. Louis County Circuit Court before Judge Richard Bresnahan. Cahill will be sentenced on Aug. 22.

Cahill was indicted by the St. Louis County grand jury in July 2007 at the request of Nixon. The indictment charged the defendant with selling residential or commercial contracting services to consumers between June 2006 and May 2007 but failing to complete or even begin the work in some cases. The indictment alleged that Cahill "willfully and knowingly engaged in such misrepresentation with the intent to defraud."

Unlawful merchandising practices is a class D felony under Missouri law that is punishable upon conviction by up to four years and a $5,000 fine on each count.

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