Christopher Paul Cheney. Credit: Cape Coral Police Department A Cape Coral man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by 120 months of state probation, for defrauding customers out of more than $700,000 as a contractor. Christopher Paul Cheney, 43, was sentenced for the crime of scheming to defraud. Cheney was a contractor who owned Southern Premier Homes. He took money from customers to build homes but spent it on personal items and did not build the structures. The crime was discovered when a victim went to check on the progress of their home and found out the business office, located in Cape Coral, had permanently closed. The Cape Coral Police Department investigated, leading to Cheney’s arrest. As part of his sentence, Cheney must also make restitution of $569,303.09. He is also prohibited from holding a contractor license, or any license involving working in the banking, loan, mortgage or real estate industry.