Zachary Taylor Holt promised his clients a fully custom barndominium that gave them the space and freedom they wanted in the rural lot location of their dreams. Only he left a huge, expensive mess behind when took thousands of dollars and abandoned his projects, leaving property owners without a home.
However, the law has finally caught up to Holt, who was arrested in Collin County on warrants for property theft between $30,000 and $150,000 from Titus County. Titus County is located east of Dallas County with the county seat in Mt. Pleasant. Several of Holt’s barndominium projects are located in
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Holt’s activity, as well as two other barndominium builders who promised big, beautiful, budget-friendly structures only to take payments and abandon the projects.
A Star-Telegram investigation found examples throughout the state of people left with half-built steel structures, drained bank accounts and no way to recover the money they spent.
The Star-Telegram spoke with nine customers of three Texas-based builders; their efforts to find legal remedies show that, in Texas, justice is the customer’s responsibility.
“As with any fad, anybody who thinks they can actually do it is going to take advantage of the marketplace,” said Sean McDonald, a construction attorney representing a Holt client.
Zachary Taylor Holt’s Pattern of Fraudulent Activity
After looking into Holt’s activity in North Texas, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office discovered his pattern of starting a construction project and then abandoning it after receiving most of the client’s payment. This left property owners with an unfinished project that cost twice as much or more to complete.
However, according to the Star-Telegram report, most homeowners were unable to recover anything from Holt and his company, Next Level Steel Buildings LLC. The sheriff’s office presented a probable cause affidavit to the Titus County District Attorney’s Office, which charged Holt with theft. A warrant was issued for his arrest in July.
“Most of the victims from other jurisdictions appear to have been told their only recourse for Holt’s actions is to pursue damages through civil means,” the Titus County Sheriff’s Office told CBS 19 (KYTX). “It is our belief that the repetitive and frequent nature of Holt’s actions rose to the level of proving Holt’s intent to defraud. We are aware that there are several other agencies now looking more closely into complaints of Holt’s activities.”
