Asheville, North Carolina, October 8, 2025
News Summary
Jason Speier, a former pastor in Asheville, has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud after defrauding over 30 clients out of more than $3 million. His fraudulent practices included misrepresenting his company’s capabilities in constructing log cabins. Investigative reporting revealed Speier accepted substantial client deposits without delivering promised services. He now faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison, as investigations continue into his actions that spanned multiple states.
Asheville, North Carolina — Jason Speier, a former pastor-turned-cabin builder, has reached a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, agreeing to plead guilty to one count of fraud by wire. The charge, which carries potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, results from a scheme that defrauded over 30 clients across several states, leading to combined losses exceeding $3 million.
A court date regarding the plea has yet to be established. Speier’s fraudulent business practices were revealed by investigative reporting in January 2024, uncovering a series of misrepresentations regarding his company, Kabens. The U.S. Attorney’s Office provided an 11-page factual basis detailing the extent of Speier’s fraudulent activities, including accepting payments from customers for services he could not deliver while having approximately 40 pending projects.
From November 18, 2022, through October 1, 2023, Speier accepted payments totaling $2,355,310.24 from 24 clients, as well as an additional $211,412.01 from contracts signed before this date. Overall, he received around $2,566,722.25 from customer payments, all of which involved interstate commerce, legitimizing the fraud by wire charges.
Speier misrepresented himself as a general contractor capable of constructing turnkey residences from European-sourced log cabin kits. Despite this assertion, neither he nor Kabens held the necessary credentials or qualifications for contractual construction services. Initially, he worked as a salesman at Affordable Log Homes, which subsequently rebranded as Kabens.
Due to delays exacerbated by the pandemic, Kabens fell significantly behind on its projects, accumulating around $200,000 in debts. Speier then rebranded the company to KI Enterprises, conducting business under the Kabens name and opening a new bank account. Through aggressive online marketing, he managed to sell numerous projects across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, often demanding deposits that were significantly high, sometimes as much as 50% of project costs.
Instead of using the client deposits to procure building kits, the funds were diverted for overhead costs, personal profit, and other unrelated expenses. Notably, Speier was never a licensed contractor, yet he sold cabin projects for over $40,000, which required a licensed contractor’s name on permits. Allegations also surfaced that contracts were signed using a forged signature of a licensed contractor, who denied granting permission for the use of his name.
The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors pursued a civil case against Speier, ultimately securing a ruling in its favor when he failed to respond. Many clients reported paid deposits for turnkey cabins in Saluda and Sylva, yet Speier failed to deliver on these agreements. One documented instance showed a client who wired an additional $47,188.27 under false pretenses about project progress, while Speier alleged sent $30,000 to a friend for personal loans on the same day a deposit was made by another client.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities continue to unravel Speier’s fraudulent activities.
FAQ
What is Jason Speier accused of?
Jason Speier is accused of pleading guilty to one count of fraud by wire, resulting in over $3 million in client losses.
What penalties is Speier facing?
The wire fraud charge carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
How many clients were affected by Speier’s actions?
Over 30 clients across several states were affected, with combined losses totaling more than $3 million.
What was Kabens involved in?
Kabens was involved in selling cabin projects, misrepresenting itself as capable of building homes using European-sourced log cabin kits.
Who filed a civil case against Speier?
The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors filed a civil case against Speier.
Key Features of Jason Speier’s Case
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plea Agreement | Pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud |
| Client Losses | Over $3 million across more than 30 clients |
| Charge Penalties | Up to 20 years in prison, $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release |
| Kabens Operations | Misrepresentation of capabilities in constructing turnkey homes |
| Investigative Reporting | Report by News 13 in January 2024 revealing fraudulent activities |
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: NC Pastor Turned Cabin Builder Faces Up To 20 Years For Defrauding Clients
- MSN: Local Pastor Charged with Felonies for Embezzlement and Larceny
- Fox Carolina: Former Church Pastor Accused of Stealing Money
- WYFF: Preacher Scheme NC Church Fraud
- ABC11: North Carolina Pastor Uses TikTok for Hurricane Recovery
- Wikipedia: Fraud by Wire
- Google Search: Jason Speier Fraud Case
- Google Scholar: Jason Speier Fraud
- Google News: Jason Speier Pastor Fraud
Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER
The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
