Mark John Chandler, a former developer from Langley, British Columbia, is currently facing accusations of orchestrating an $800,000 fraud against a U.S. development company. Remarkably, these alleged activities took place while Chandler was incarcerated, serving a sentence for an unrelated fraud conviction in Los Angeles.

The allegations center on a sophisticated scheme linked to the redevelopment of a historic site in New Jersey. This case adds another chapter to Chandler's complex legal history, which includes previous convictions and a high-profile failed project in his home province.

Chandler's Troubled Past and Incarceration

Chandler's name is well-known in British Columbia due to his involvement in the Murrayville House condo complex near Langley Memorial Hospital. This project ultimately collapsed amidst a flurry of creditor lawsuits, significant construction delays, and accusations of selling the same condo units multiple times.

The fallout from Murrayville House led to Chandler's extradition to California in 2019. There, he was sentenced to six years in prison for a separate fraud offense. He is currently scheduled for release in January 2025.

The Alleged New Jersey Fraud Scheme

According to lawsuits filed in New Jersey, Chandler is accused of defrauding KMS Development Partners Ltd., a real estate firm focused on transforming the Frank Sinatra Post Office site in Hoboken, New Jersey, into a major hotel. KMS had acquired the site from the U.S. government in the summer of 2022 and was actively seeking construction financing.

On January 4, 2023, representatives from KMS were introduced to an individual identifying himself as "Marcus Hamilton Chandler." This person claimed to be a wealthy descendant of a London-based family and the chairman of the Chandler Family Trust, offering $157 million in construction loans.

KMS subsequently transferred $300,000 on January 17, 2023, into an escrow account purportedly controlled by the trust. This payment was intended to cover due diligence, advisory, and other expenses related to the substantial loan. Further negotiations in February 2023 led to an additional commitment fee of $500,000 being paid by March 2023.

Unmasking the Imposter and Legal Proceedings

The promised funds, however, never materialized. The alleged scheme unraveled on July 19, 2023, when Robert Reed, KMS's vice president of construction management, discovered that "Marcus Hamilton Chandler" was, in fact, Mark John Chandler, who was already serving time for fraud.

Following this revelation, KMS Development Partners Ltd. initiated a civil fraud lawsuit against Chandler. The legal proceedings have been marked by Chandler's consistent failure to participate, including not appearing at court conferences, attending depositions, or submitting initial disclosures.

Future Outlook and Unproven Allegations

Upon his release from U.S. prison in January 2025, Chandler is slated for deportation. While he also holds British citizenship, he is most likely to be deported to Canada.

It is crucial to emphasize that all allegations against Mark John Chandler remain unproven in court. Furthermore, there is currently no indication that any criminal charges have been filed in relation to this specific case. The Langley Advance Times has attempted to contact the U.S. Department of Justice office in Newark, New Jersey, to inquire about any ongoing criminal investigations.

Additional Past Convictions

Chandler's legal record includes a conviction for theft in Arizona in the early 2000s and another for spousal battery in California in 2009. A photograph of Mark Chandler taken outside the B.C. Supreme Court during an earlier extradition hearing serves as a stark reminder of his extensive legal entanglements.