Home improvement fraud arrest
Montgomery County police officer Denise Gill prefaced the following message with these remarks:
Please pass this press release on to your community. While this incident occurred in another district awhile ago, it serves as a very good reminder to all of us when we are considering hiring anyone to do any type of work around our homes.
Unlicensed home improvement scams are one of the many ways a thief parts you from your hard earned money.
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
Kind Regards,
Denise
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION
2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
240-773-5030
For Immediate Release December 29, 2009
For More Information: Media Services Division, 240-773-5030
One Man Arrested for Home Improvement Scam,
One Man Still Sought
Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Financial Crimes Section have served an arrest warrant on a man for victimizing a 55-year-old Wheaton woman in a criminal scheme where he and an accomplice posed as licensed home improvement contractors.
On June 25, 2007, 4th District officers responded to the 12300 block of Dewey Road in Wheaton for a fraud complaint. The responding officers located the woman and determined that she had been the victim of a fraudulent home improvement scheme. Through the course of the investigation, Mario Ramirez-Cadenas, 25 years old, of no fixed address, and Leslie Alberto Irias, 39 years old, of the 200 block of Pershing Avenue NW Leesburg, Virginia, were developed as suspects.
On November 11, 2006, the victim entered into a fraudulent contract with Ramirez and Irias to tear down and build a new house for her. Irias and Ramirez required a down payment and the victim paid them $90,000.00. Unfortunately, they never began construction on the new house and discontinued all forms of communication with the victim. The victim and her daughter became suspicious of the suspects and began their own investigation into their activities. They quickly discovered that the suspects had victimized several other individuals in the area. The victim also attempted to contact the suspects again, but this time found that the phones were disconnected and both Ramirez and Irias and their construction company had disappeared.
The subsequent investigation showed that the suspects had performed the same type of fraud scheme at least three times in Northern Virginia, Germantown, Wheaton, Sandy Spring, and Silver Spring. The suspects are responsible for defrauding these victims in excess of $500,000.00.
On December 23, 2009, Ramirez was arrested for domestic violence in Wichita, Kansas. During the booking process, the Wichita authorities discovered the fraud warrant that Montgomery County Police had obtained on July 24, 2007. Ramirez is being held without bond awaiting extradition proceedings.
An arrest warrant is open and active for Irias. His current whereabouts are unknown. The MCP Financial Crimes Section, which can be reached at 240-773-6330, would like to hear from anyone who may know the whereabouts of Leslie Alberto Irias. Callers may remain anonymous.
To prevent home improvement scams:
- Research and plan the home improvement project.
- Choose a contractor carefully. Contact the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636 to find out if there have been any complaints about the contractor.
- Contact the Home Improvement Commission in Baltimore at 410-230-6309 to verify if a contractor is licensed.
- Ask a lot of questions.
- Make sure the contractor provides a Home Improvement Contract and both the consumer and the contractor sign it before work begins or money is paid.
For more information regarding home improvement and hiring a contractor, contact the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3636 or go to the Montgomery County Government website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov and click on “Departments”, then click on “Consumer Protection”.
***A photograph of Irias is included with this release. A photograph is not available of Ramirez-Cadenas.***
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