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Roofer sentenced to 2 years, ordered to pay restitution for scam

Company was focus of I-Team investigation
Posted at 1:09 PM, Feb 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-03 13:09:46-05

CINCINNATI -- A Norwood roofer accused of scamming homeowners pleaded guilty Friday.

David Nelson, 36, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $104,000 in restitution on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and insurance fraud stemming from a scam that affected 24 homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati area between 2014 and '15.

The I-Team investigated Nelson and his company, American Property Claims Specialists, in 2015.

Nelson would contact homeowners with damaged roofs, tell them that insurance would cover the cost of repairs and have the homeowners sign over checks from their insurers to his company. But then the work would remain unfinished for months, if finished at all.

In some cases, Nelson damaged the homeowners' roofs to create the appearance of storm damage.

Last year, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against Nelson, and a grand jury later indicted him on 30 counts.

 

"Our goal is to protect Ohio’s families and that includes cracking down on scam artists who rip them off," DeWine said. "This case involved a classic scam. The defendant took money and provided nothing in return."