Former real estate agent charged with tax evasion, fraud over failed Windsor condo development

WINDSOR — A former real estate agent and developer turned himself in to Weld County authorities in connection with alleged financial crimes related to a failed construction project in Windsor.

Bret Lamperes, 51, was booked into the Weld County Jail last week and charged with one count of theft and money laundering, along with three counts of tax evasion. Court records show that he posted the combined $250,000 of bail and is out of custody.

BizWest reported last month that several residents filed civil lawsuits against Lamperes, alleging that he managed their purchase of a condominium in a future building south of Windsor Lake.

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The suits claim that Lamperes admitted to the Colorado Real Estate Commission that he transferred $409,000 from the project to his personal accounts and transferred $321,000 to his business partner.

State regulators revoked Lamperes’ license last August after their own investigation and fined him $50,000.

When reached at the time for comment, Lamperes denied any wrongdoing and described the project’s collapse as a business deal gone bad.

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it believes Lamperes stole $852,510 from 15 investors in the condo project. If convicted on all counts, Lamperes could face 11 to 33 years in prison and fines as high as $450,000.

He is scheduled to appear for arraignment Friday morning.