Augusta County realtor Amy Argenbright is scheduled to stand trial in Augusta County Circuit Court on Tuesday on three separate counts of felony construction fraud, though the total number of charges could shift before Judge Shannon Sherrill hears opening statements.
Assistant Augusta County Commonwealth’s Attorney Caleb Kramer confirmed Argenbright faces one felony offense in each of the three cases, noting “that may change” ahead of proceedings.
Meanwhile, defense attorney Thomas Weidner IV has repeatedly argued that the dispute belongs in civil court, not criminal court.
“People sue all day long over breach of contract,’’ Weidner argued during a May hearing.
The charges against the A&Co 2002 LLC owner first surfaced mid-2025. Argenbright was initially indicted in July 2025 after allegedly taking $366,000 to construct an Augusta County single-family residence that was never built.
Following news coverage of that charge, additional alleged victims stepped forward, leading a grand jury to issue two more construction fraud indictments in November 2025 — one involving a six-figure project and another involving a five-figure sum.
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To secure a conviction on construction fraud under the Virginia Code, prosecutors must meet a high legal threshold by proving “fraudulent intent” — showing Argenbright took the funds with no intention of completing the work, rather than simply failing to fulfill a business contract.
Weidner contends the matter is simply a contract dispute. In Virginia, a civil breach of contract occurs when a party fails to fulfill contractual duties, which defense counsel maintains does not equate to criminal conduct.
The Virginia Code says a breach of trust occurs when a party fails to perform a contractual obligation without legal excuse, repudiates the contract or exceeds authorized use terms.
Kramer expects to call seven witnesses, present extensive financial evidence, and introduce victim testimony over the two-day trial to demonstrate “a more human side of the case.”
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