Crime Blotter
Illinois Man Posing as Roofing Contractor Charged with Burglary
Man worked with two others to rob homeowners while claiming to check for leaks
Jose Lema, owner of ALJ Home Improvement Inc., pleads guilty to OSHA violations resulting in employee death. Lema failed to provide fall protection systems, leading to the tragic death of a roof worker. This incident marks a pattern of negligence, with a prior fatal accident in 2019. Despite previous citations, Lema continued disregarding safety regulations, prompting OSHA to propose a hefty fine of $1.3 million.
Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA.
Despite some people giving roofers a bad rap, they are willing to trust the experts when it comes to taking care of their home. One man who took advantage of that trust is now facing felony charges after posing as a roofing contractor to rob homes in Minnesota.
According to ABC-affiliated KAAL-TV, Andy Bimbo, 35, was charged on Oct. 9 with two felony counts of aiding and abetting first-degree burglary. He is accused of posing as a roofing contractor to distract homeowners while his accomplices searched their homes for valuables.
On May 30, 2025, the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office responded to two homes regarding similar incidents. According to reporting from the Post Bulletin, three men visited a couple's home, telling them their roof was leaking and needed repairs. One of the men spoke with the couple in their kitchen while the other two moved through the home, claiming to be "checking the corners of the ceilings for leaks." The man distracting the couple, identified as Bimbo, provided fliers for "5 Stars Construction" and left in a black pickup truck.
The couple later noticed objects in their home were out of place, and roughly $300 in cash was missing.
The other incident was caught on camera. A homeowner showed surveillance footage from two cameras inside his family's home to deputies. The footage showed two men, one carrying a clipboard with a flyer for "5 Stars Construction," entering the home.
The footage shows Bimbo asking one of the homeowners to show him some of the shingles on the roof. At that time, a "chirp" is heard from Bimbo, which signaled the second man to enter the home. This man, identified as Cody Luigi Frank, 21, of Schaumburg, Ill., wore a headlamp and put on gloves before rifling through drawers in a bedroom. A short time later, another "chirp" from Bimbo is heard, and Frank leaves the room. The couple didn't immediately report anything missing.
According to the Post Bulletin, the sheriff's office identified the men thanks to their distinctive clothing, visible tattoos and facial recognition software. They also identified a third accomplice as Jason Leo Frank, 47, of Elgin, Ill. The filed criminal complaint indicates the trio is known as a traveling burglary crew operating in several states.
Charges were filed on Sept. 16 at the Olmstead County District Court. At the time of reporting, only Bimbo has appeared in court. Active warrants are out for the other two men.
Attorneys with the Olmstead County Attorney's Office are seeking harsher charges in the case since the group has targeted "particularly vulnerable elderly homeowners.
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