A circuit judge set a February trial date for Augusta County realtor Amy Argenbright Wednesday for a felony contractor fraud charge.
The allegation is that the victim paid Argenbright of A&Co 2002 LLC $366,000 for the construction of a single-family residence in eastern Augusta County, but the residence was never finished.
An Augusta County grand jury indicted Argenbright in July on a charge of failure to perform promise for construction in return for advances. The charge followed an investigation by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
Argenbright appeared subdued in Augusta County Circuit Court Wednesday. She told Judge Shannon Sherrill she is still attempting to raise enough money so she can hire an attorney.
Sherrill said Argenbright had promised to hire an attorney at an August court hearing. “How long will you need?’’ Sherrill asked Wednesday.
Argenbright said she has no recent source of income. She told the court she has lost three real estate clients, five construction contracts and is looking at foreclosure on her home. She said she is seeking work.
Sherrill set a Feb. 26-27, 2026, trial after Assistant Augusta County Commonwealth’s Attorney Caleb Kramer told him the case is involved and would likely take two days.
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Kramer said a number of witnesses would be called and also spoke of the “complex nature’’ of the case’s financial transactions. The prosecutor said it is not clear whether assets in the case “are part of the LLC or Mrs Argenbright’s.”
The judge said for now, the trial is set for a jury, but said when Argenbright hires an attorney, the attorney could request a bench trial.
Sherrill also set a Dec. 18 status hearing to see if Argenbright has an attorney by that time. The judge set Jan. 21 as the date for a pretrial hearing and formal arraignment of Argenbright on the charge.
Anyone who may be a victim of construction fraud involving Argenbright is asked to contact the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 245-5333 or Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Caleb Kramer at [email protected].
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