MO_Criminal Complaint_Image.jpegThe Missouri Attorney General's Office announced criminal charges against a contractor in Greene County for allegedly defrauding two-dozen customers, most of them elderly, according to a complaint filed in circuit court at the beginning of March.

The contractor, Glenn M. Jessen, 53, of Camdenton, Mo., was charged with 24 counts of deceptive business practices related to his operation of Midwest Roofing Commercial & Residential, Inc., and Overland Roof Exchange, Inc., according to the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

In a release, the complaint says Jessen's businesses would take upfront payments from customers to repair their roofs, gutters or siding, but then the work was either not completed or, in some cases, not even started. The charges allege Jessen’s businesses falsely promised to replace roofs, gutters, and siding. The attorney general noted that 15 victims were elderly, and combined losses totaled nearly $150,000.

“As attorney general, I will uphold the laws as written and defend innocent Missourians from being ripped off,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in the release. “I’m proud of the work done by our Consumer Protection Unit every day to protect Missourians, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal power to safeguard against deceptive business practices.”

Jennsen faces 24 class-E felonies, which carry a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 per charge. If convicted on all counts, the contractor could face more than 90 years in prison and $240,000 in fines.

Attempts to reach Jessen or his companies were unsuccessful.