A yacht broker accused of bilking numerous clients out of more than $300,000 has promised to pay back all the money as part of a plea agreement. The deal also calls for Edwin Leroy Blakesley, formerly of Chestertown, to serve six months in jail and afterward to be on supervised probation for five years. Blakesley, 67, agreed to pay $319,323.32 to the victims. The court is not bound by the prosecutor’s recommendation. Bowman could impose the maximum penalty at sentencing on August 25.

Blakesley owned and operated Yachts Unlimited LLC, conducting business at two marinas in Kent County, an office that he rented on High Street in Chestertown, and his home in the 27000 block of Preston Lane outside of Chestertown. He sold some boats and purchased others for his customers, allegedly keeping the money. By March 2007, Blakesley’s bank accounts were empty. Soon after, he left Maryland, according to police.

Blakesley was arrested in Arkansas, returned to Maryland on March 16 and was arrested on a Kent County Circuit Court bench warrant the following day. In January, Strong had obtained a 17-count grand jury indictment that charged Blakesley with conducting a theft scheme from February 18, 2006 to February 26, 2007. There were eight alleged victims, including Washington College and a part-time Rock Hall resident who has since died.