SANTA ROSA BEACH — A South Walton man has been arrested after the The Walton County Sheriff's Office said five victims were defrauded of more than $450,000 in a barn kit scheme.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office were contacted in the fall by a victim who filed a fraud report on Beam Barns business owner Christopher Willman, 49.

Willman advertised the business as one offering custom barn kits for sale. Willman's residence and business address was listed in Santa Rosa Beach, according to the Sheriff's Office.

A victim reported in February 2016 she paid a deposit of $5,000 for a barn kit. In July 2018, the she paid an additional $20,758 for the kit. In September 2018, she made her final payment to the business in the amount of $15,155. Willman told her the barn kit would be delivered by September 2018, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The victim never received the barn kit, any materials, lumber, supplies, or a refund. By May 2019, four other Beam Barns customers reported paying Willman for barn kits they never received.

A total of $458,189.20 was defrauded from five victims in the barn kit scheme.

SANTA ROSA BEACH &mdash; A South Walton man has been arrested after the The Walton County Sheriff's Office said five victims were defrauded of more than $450,000 in a barn kit scheme. Investigators with the Sheriff&rsquo;s Office were contacted in the fall by a victim who filed a fraud report on Beam Barns business owner Christopher Willman, 49. Willman advertised the business as one offering custom barn kits for sale. Willman's residence and business address was listed in Santa Rosa Beach, according to the Sheriff's Office. A victim reported in February 2016 she paid a deposit of $5,000 for a barn kit. In July 2018, the she paid an additional $20,758 for the kit. In September 2018, she made her final payment to the business in the amount of $15,155. Willman told her the barn kit would be delivered by September 2018, according to the Sheriff's Office. The victim never received the barn kit, any materials, lumber, supplies, or a refund. By May 2019, four other Beam Barns customers reported paying Willman for barn kits they never received. A total of $458,189.20 was defrauded from five victims in the barn kit scheme.

A collection of interviews, news actualities and press conferences from the Northwest Florida Daily News.

From the Newsroom: The Northwest Florida Daily News - News and Interviews from Northwest, FL