HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that an Ohio-based contractor is charged with defrauding Erie County homeowners of $80,000.
Kenneth Miller, 69, of Lewis Center, Ohio, was arraigned Friday and charged with felony counts of theft by deception, deceptive business practices, and home improvement fraud. His bail was set at $100,000. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16.
Miller is charged with taking more than $80,000 in deposits from four homeowners but never bought materials or performed any work. He used the money for personal expenses. Two of the victims were over the age of 60.
“This contractor blatantly stole money from homeowners who made substantial payments for home improvements,” Attorney General Sunday said. “The defendant used money budgeted by Pennsylvanians for home upgrades to buy himself jewelry and pay for a divorce lawyer. Pennsylvania homeowners deserve quality and timely work performed with integrity, and these victims were left to deal with lost funds and the emotional toll of having been scammed of their hard-earned money.”
Between November 2023 and May 2024, Miller entered into home improvement agreements with four homeowners in Corry and Erie and told the homeowners that their initial deposits would be used to buy materials.
An investigation determined that Miller did not use the money to purchase the materials after depositing the checks. He used the money to pay credit card bills, legal fees for his divorce attorney, and to buy jewelry and fund automobile services. Miller also made large cash withdrawals. He did not return to the homeowners’ residences to complete any of the work.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Brandon Bingle. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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