Evansville CEO charged with felony residence enchancment fraud

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Dennis Szorcsik and Melanie McConnell of Newburgh, Indiana met with Elite Development Programs in March of 2021 about constructing a sunroom onto their home.

On the time, CEO Matthew Gates mentioned if the couple signed a contract that day, the undertaking can be completed by Mom’s Day.

When the 2 sides agreed to a deal, Szorcsik and McConnell paid Elite Development Programs roughly $17,000.

They rapidly skilled quite a few delays.

“After they began on it, they realized the posts that had been set have been outdoors the parameters of the sunroom,” Szorcsik mentioned.

The submit holes have been dug once more after a while. McConnell says her again yard look preferred “Whack-A-Mole” for awhile.

Earlier than the brand new holes have been dug, the outdated posts have been sawed off. There are nonetheless a number of stumps cemented into the bottom virtually a yr later.

Finally, crews got here out and laid the deck portion of the sunroom.

“Matt got here out and met with us, per the phrases of our settlement, after the deck was put in,” Szorcsik mentioned. “One other cost was made to him. And that was the final time we noticed him.”

The second cost introduced the couple’s whole to almost $30,000.

They are saying regardless of calling the corporate quite a few occasions, no extra work has been executed on the sunroom since July.

Late final yr, Gates filed for chapter.

“Whether or not we get our a refund, we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re most likely not,” Szorcsik mentioned. “There’s an extended record of individuals within the chapter continuing. So who is aware of, however we don’t intend to see the cash we put into this.”

The unfinished sunroom isn’t the one undertaking left half-done by Elite Development Provide.

Gates is going through a number of regulation fits in Indiana for related experiences.

A kind of regulation fits is from Szorcsik and McConnell.

McConnell says she spoke to at least one one that employed Elite Development Provide to redo the roofing on their residence.

McConnell says that particular person had their shingles stripped off, after which crews by no means confirmed again up.

Warrick County Sheriff Mike Wilder says the sheriff’s workplace executed an arrest warrant for Gates on Thursday.

He’s charged with felony residence enchancment fraud.

He’s out on a $5,000 bond.

Elite Development Provide was closed Friday when 14 Information visited the corporate round 2 p.m.

There was an indication on the door that mentioned the enterprise was closed, and other people may name their quantity for twenty-four hour help.

We known as that quantity and requested a touch upon the arrest of their CEO.

Now we have not heard again.

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