Builder heads back to federal pen for violating parole
A federal judge sentenced former metro-east home builder Joseph "J.D." Castellano to a year in jail on Monday after he found Castellano violated his parole. Castellano served an 8-year prison sentence on wire-fraud charges in connection with leaving 27 homes unfinished and costing customers, contractor and a local bank more than $1.85 million. Federal probation officers asked to revoke Castellano's parole after they said he worked for Marion Truss. The terms of his release bar him from working in the construction business. "It's just like Yogi Berra said, 'Its deja vu all over again,'" said U.S. District Judge David Herndon. "... It appears that Mr. Castellano has not gotten the message."

Builder heads back to federal pen for violating parole

BY BETH HUNDSDORFER - News-Democrat
EAST ST. LOUIS -- A federal judge sentenced former metro-east home builder Joseph "J.D." Castellano to a year in jail on Monday after he found Castellano violated his parole.

Castellano served an 8-year prison sentence on wire-fraud charges in connection with leaving 27 homes unfinished and costing customers, contractor and a local bank more than $1.85 million.

Federal probation officers asked to revoke Castellano's parole after they said he worked for Marion Truss. The terms of his release bar him from working in the construction business.

"It's just like Yogi Berra said, 'Its deja vu all over again,'" said U.S. District Judge David Herndon. "... It appears that Mr. Castellano has not gotten the message."

Castellano and his son, Monte, operated the Joseph Daniel Co., also known as J.D. & Co. The firm marketed, sold and built new, single-family homes and advertised low down payments and low closing costs.

The company folded in October 1999, when J.D. Castellano fled to Florida without notifying his customers.

As part of his sentence, U.S. District Judge David Herndon ordered in 2002 that Castellano serve eight years in prison and pay $1,000 a month in restitution.

Castellano, 57, was released from prison on Oct. 16, 2006. His son, Monte Castellano, was released on April 2, 2004.

Since his release, J.D. Castellano has worked with Marion Truss Co., soliciting funds from its customers, according to court records. Under the terms of his federal parole, J.D. Castellano is barred from holding employment as a contractor or subcontractor on residential or commercial construction.

The former builder also missed six restitution payments, according to the petition to revoke his probation. The Castellanos still owe $1.79 million in restitution.

But Stephen Williams, J.D. Castellano's attorney, told Herndon some proceeds of his client's company were liquidated during a bankruptcy and paid down that restitution amount,.

J.D. Castellano also admitted to taking Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, without a prescription during his parole. He failed to give a written report to his parole officer for five months, then failed to give a truthful report on March 5, according to a petition filed Dec. 8 to revoke his parole.

Herndon ordered J.D. Castellano to serve four years on parole after his release next year.

The elder Castellano, who admitted to a gambling problem, was also barred from entering casinos as part of his future parole.

Herndon called J.D. Castellano's actions "absolutely despicable, but consistent with his prior behavior."

Contact reporter Beth Hundsdorfer at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 239-2570.