search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Multiple Roofing Contractors Facing Charges of Theft, Fraud

By Chris Gray
handcuffs-police-roofing

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash.

September 29, 2020

There’s an oft-repeated saying about people being bad apples, but the whole saying is as follows: “One bad apple can spoil the barrel.”

In this case, there are contractors who take advantage of people, and in turn not only hurt the victims, but the roofing industry’s reputation as a whole. They often complete shoddy roofing work with low-quality materials, or worse, take a customer’s money and run. However, these scammers don’t always get away with it.

Here are some recent stories from around the country of scammers who were caught, clearing the way for legit roofing contractors to serve their communities.

Tennessee Roofing Contractor Charged with Felony Theft

NBC-affiliated WRCB-TV provided the latest update on a roofing contractor who is accused of stealing $10,900 from victims.

Police in Signal Mountain, Tenn. charged Fred Emmett Holder, Jr., 37, with felony theft. Holder is the former owner of Greenform Construction, and according to police, he received a down payment of $10,900 in April from a customer for a roof replacement. Police say Holder never completed the work, nor did he refund the money.

WRCB-TV previously reported that Holder filed for bankruptcy amid claims that his company collected thousands of dollars from customers, but didn't do any of the work.

"We are finding what appears to be a fraudulent scheme allegedly at this point," Attorney Kimberly Cambron told WRCB.

Roofing Contractor in NY Arrested After Scamming $6K from Victim

Syracuse.com reports that state police arrested a roofing contractor in Oneida County, N.Y. after he took $6,000 for a down payment but never did the work.

Roberto Taylor, 48, of Rome, owns Taylor Construction in Camden. State police said Taylor entered into a contract in June with a homeowner to replace their roof. Taylor received the $6,000 down payment, but no work was completed in the three-and-a-half months following the payment, nor did Taylor make an effort to refund the money.

Taylor is being charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony.

Montana Roofing Scammer Pleads Guilty to Deception and Forgery

A former roofing contractor in Montana pleaded guilty last week to theft by deception and forgery.

According to the Montana Standard, William “Bill” Lee Dunmire, 47, received a 15-year suspended prison sentence and must repay $21,000 in restitution to his victims. He was initially arrested in June 2019 after allegations that, as the owner/operator of Peak Roofing LLC, didn’t complete roofing work after being paid upfront for two jobs.

Dunmire’s victims included a Butte, Mont. business in need of roof repairs and a resident who paid for a complete roof replacement.

Sentencing of Arkansas Roofing Scammer Delayed

The Baxter Bulletin reports the sentencing of a 31-year-old roofing contractor convicted of three theft charges has been delayed for the fifth time.

John Downing of Mountain Home, Ark. faces a total potential prison sentence of 24 years for four Class D felonies he pleaded guilty to, including the three theft charges and one count of obtaining a signature by fraud. The delay occurred due to prosecutors wanting Downing to provide money to repay his victims. Downing's attorney told the court that he still had not received his tax refund from the federal government. He is to reappear in court on Oct. 15 for sentencing.

Downing, who owns High Bridge Roofing and Construction, was arrested in August 2019 on a theft charge. The charge stems from collecting $2,500 from a victim to install a new roof and never performing the work. Not long after, more theft cases were filed against Downing for similar incidents that resulted in two victims losing $1,700 and $4,700, respectively.

According to the Baxter Bulletin, Downing has a previous criminal record consisting of residential burglary and theft of property.

KEYWORDS: Alabama crime Montana New York prison Residential Roofing Contractor scams in roofing

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Chrisgray
Chris Gray is the editor of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He has worked in the fields of journalism and copywriting for nearly 20 years, ranging from local print newspapers to the multi-media promotion of international artists.


Reach him at 248-244-6498 or grayc@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Sustainable Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

Dear Anna Podcast Lead Generation Optimization featuring Anna Anderson

Dear Anna: How Can I Optimize Lead Generation?

hourglass-with-blue-sand-black-background

QXO Extends Offer to Acquire Beacon Once More Before Closing Deal

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

May 22, 2025

Remote Teams 101: The New Way to Hire

Our industry experts will guide you through what remote hiring and outsourcing should look like, how it can help you grow, and why it’s easier (and less scary) than you might think. If you want to save time, find great talent, and grow your business, this is one session you don’t want to miss!

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • A 2018 photo on Joshua Madsen’s LinkedIn page.

    Greed Drove Contractor Who Now Faces Multiple Fraud Charges

    See More
  • police-lights

    Two Indiana Contractors Face Charges of Roofing Fraud

    See More
  • gavel-900

    Felony Charges Dropped Against Ohio Roofing Contractor Accused of Theft

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 17, 2025

    Homeowners Survey: A Roofing Customer’s Journey

    On-Demand Roofing contractors can use this information to better understand what factors influence a homeowner's contractor selection process. At the same time, they'll explore ideas to improve customer communication and operational efficiency that grow profits.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing