Two Jailed in $340K Roofing Scam Targeting Seniors

Fraud ring posed as roofing contractors

By Tanja Kern, Senior Strategic Content Editor

front door of district attorney's office — Marin County

Two men who posed as licensed roofing contractors have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a fraud scheme that stole more than $340,000 from elderly homeowners, Marin County, Calif., prosecutors said.

John McNamara, 49, and Dean Morgan, 34, were each sentenced in Marin County Superior Court to three years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts of grand theft by false pretenses. Authorities said the crimes occurred in March 2024 and targeted four victims between the ages of 78 and 85.

Prosecutors said the men, along with several unidentified accomplices, claimed to work for a fictitious company called Nashes Roofing & Construction and used business cards, invoices and a website to appear legitimate. The group traveled through several Bay Area counties, Sacramento County and Colorado, targeting older homeowners with fraudulent roofing and construction contracts.

In some cases, the suspects approached homes uninvited and told residents their roofs required urgent repairs. They then collected large down payments and often performed little or no work before disappearing, according to authorities.

McNamara and Morgan were also convicted in Colorado in March 2025 for a similar roofing scam, and Morgan was convicted in Sacramento County in a related case. With those sentences combined, each man will serve a total of nine years and eight months in prison.

“The Marin County District Attorney’s Office is steadfastly committed to holding scammers criminally accountable for their fraudulent acts, particularly fraud committed against our senior population,” District Attorney Lori Frugoli said in a statement.

The district attorney’s office urged homeowners to verify contractors’ licenses through the California Department of Consumer Affairs before agreeing to work.

Under California law, contractors may only collect a down payment of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. Charging more than that amount is illegal under state law.

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Tanja Kern covers economic trends and the intersection of architecture, design, and construction for Roofing Contractor, with an emphasis on the forces reshaping the industry. She develops and amplifies content that connects roofing professionals with the intelligence they need to compete and grow.

With more than 20 years of experience, Tanja has written for national business, consumer and trade publications. She holds a Master of Science in magazine publishing from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.